Sunday Times Politics Weekly

Last week one of the more influential countries in East Africa, Kenya went to the polls to choose a new president. And, not for the first time, the outcome sparked controversy as current vice-president William Ruto narrowly defeated long-time campaigner Raila Odinga. Odinga, who lost the August 9 presidential elections by a tiny margin, rejected the outcome of the vote and vowed to take constituti...

In March this year President Cyril Ramaphosa legally recognised Prince Misuzulu ka Zwelithini as the king-elect of the Zulu people, following the death last year of long-reigning King Goodwill Zwelithini ka Bhekuzulu. But subsequent events around the Zulu royal household suggest that the president’s decision does not enjoy universal support. The Zulu royal household this week condemned an alleged...

This week on Sunday Times Politics Weekly we look at the strained relationship between SA and its neighbours due to an influx of foreigners accused of crime. Recent cases include the gang rape of eight women in Krugersdorp, which has been blamed on illegal foreign miners, and Eswatini spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo's comment that “South Africa is infested with a cancer of criminality from head to t...

Today on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we look at one of most important events on this year’s political calendar – the ANC’s policy conference, which is in preparation for the organisation’s national conference in December. Hypothetically, if the proposals of the policy conference are adopted in December, they should feed into government policy and impact directly your life and mine. The quest...

This weekend, the ANC in KwaZulu Natal holds its provincial conference, as part of the build up to the all-important ANC national Conference in December, which will, among other things choose a new leader for the organisation – and by extension, the new leader of the country. On the Politics Weekly this time we look at the significance of the conference, and also at the key players and factions sq...

As the nation mourns the deaths of 21 people in three separate shooting incidents at various taverns at the weekend, the silence around gun control in SA's political arena is coming to the fore. A report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime released late last year, found that SA has an estimated 2.35-million illegal firearms in circulation. Most of these weapons become in...

With the work of the State Capture Commission finally concluded, this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly is set aside for a one-on-one with the catalyst for the commission, former public protector who recommended the establishment of a commission into state capture Professor Thuli Madonsela. Madonsela opens up to our host, Mike Siluma, about the importance of whistle-blowers in protecting...

In today’s instalment of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we look at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s predicament, in the wake of the scandal over a burglary on his Phala Phala farm two years ago. The scandal was set off by the laying of charges including bribery, kidnapping and money laundering, among others. The controversy which has been dubbed 'Farmgate', 'Mattressgate' or even 'Dollargate', now t...

This week the country was abuzz with the news that the villains of the state capture story in SA, the Gupta brothers, had been arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), pending extradition to SA. In this weeks episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we ask how soon they might be brought back to SA – and whether the country is ripe to be captured again by other nefarious interests? Our host...

This week the former head of the State Security Agency Arthur Fraser dropped what looked like a political bombshell – laying criminal charges against President Cyril Ramaphosa.  According to a statement released by Fraser, he has pressed criminal charges against President Ramaphosa which include defeating the ends of justice, torture, kidnapping and bribery. However, the presidency quickly rebutte...

Embattled former health minister Zweli Mkhize used his son’s wedding, over the weekend, as a mini rally to launch his bid to unseat President Cyril Ramaphosa at the ANC’s national conference in December this year. A group of Zulu regiments, along with controversial former Ukhozi FM presenter Ngizwe Mchunu, took turns to endorse his campaign at his homestead in Willowfontein, Pietermaritzburg. This...

Despite the end of apartheid 28 years ago, racial incidents continue to be reported in SA's schools with increased regularity, according to South African Human Rights Commission's (SAHRC) Commissioner Andre Gaum. In this episode of the Politics Weekly, we ask what sustains racism in our society, and how we can fight it more effectively. Joining our host, Mike Siluma, to frame this discussion are G...

Last week the Commission into State Capture, led by chief justice Raymond Zondo delivered its fourth report into state capture. So, in this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly we reflect on the outcomes of the commission’s work, and whether SA is a better place after its revelations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use...

Racial politics and the rise of ethnic pride, are on the agenda for the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, this week. Recently, a new organisation, purportedly standing for the rights of coloured people, or the 'brown people', as it put it, was announced. It was met with skepticism from many quarters. We looks at the question of group identity, specifically so-called coloured identity, as part of our n...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has campaigned on a policy of clean governance, but when it comes to cleaning up the ANC he seems to be all bark and no bite.  This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, our panel looks at the question of ethics in political and other leadership in society. Why? Because, as you may know, the ANC in Mpumalanga has elected someone who is facing charges of murder — treas...

Today on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we consider the harm and the need for vigilantly groups, such as Operation Dudula, in modern SA society. Recently, we had a conversation about the challenges of managing immigration in our country, and touched on the activities of organisations such as Operation Dudula, which campaign to give priority to South Africans when it comes to job and business op...

This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we are looking at the controversy surrounding our country’s R50m donation to the republic of Cuba, which has been interdicted by the courts. The panel discusses what our legal and ethical obligations are to allied foreign countries. Can South Africa afford to help others when its own house is not in order? If we do not look to maintain foreign relatio...

This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly we talk matters immigration, more specifically the activities of the group calling itself Operation Dudula and the Dulula Movement , which have been campaigning against what they calls 'illegal foreign traders' and the employment of undocumented foreign workers. This week our host Mike Siuluma is joined by Shenilla Mohamed Executive Director of Amnesty...

This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we thought we should catch up on the build up to arguably the major political event of the year – the ANC’s elective conference taking place in December. Among other things, we look at the state of play in the provinces, the lack of skilled leadership within the party, as well as the names of some of the candidates bubbling to the top. Hosted by Simpl...

SA’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has divided public opinion. Some felt our response was too tepid, while others supported Pretoria’s call for a negotiated solution. In this week’s episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we explore the government’s rationale, as well options open to it. Our host, Mike Siluma is joined by Prof Daniel Bradlow from the University of Pretoria and c...

In this week’s episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly we are talk about the state of the African National Congress – and how that impacts our national life. This off the back of the assertion by former president Thabo Mbeki that the collapse of the ANC would have dire consequences for the country. Is he right in that assertion? Or the ANC itself become a threat to the well-being of the countr...

In this week's episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly we are reflecting on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation address, and asking if we need to maintain an event that seems to be nothing more than a political ritual. Our host Mike Siluma is joined by UniSA political lecturer Dr Dirk Kotze and Associate Prof with the School of Governance at Wits University William Gumede. The panel co...

When the majority of a country is “captured” who is left to hold those responsible to account? This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast, we’re reflecting on the Zondo commission’s reports so far. Now that we have a clearer understanding of the effects of state capture in SA, our panel asks: who should we be holding accountable and is SA’s justice system up to the task? In this rivetin...

In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we’ll be looking at the ANC’s succession race, which is under way in all but name. Apart from the obvious names, such as President Cyril Ramaphosa and tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu, another name that has come up is that of justice and correctional services minister Ronald Lamola. This week we consider the “youth factor” in ANC leadership and w...

SA’s constitution has recently been the subject of much public debate following a critical opinion piece penned by tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu. In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we invite one of the leaders who participated in the drafting and adoption of the constitution, struggle veteran, activist and former constitutional development minister, Mohammed Valli Moosa, to share h...