When Betting Is All You Have Left: Inside South Africa’s R1.5 Trillion Gambling Industry
South Africa’s gambling industry just hit R1.5 trillion and it’s not just for fun anymore. Behind the flashing lights are stories of poverty, desperation, and survival. In today’s episode of The Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi talks to Wendy Knowler, Consumer Journalist at News24, about how gambling has quietly become one of the country’s biggest social and economic fault lines.This episode is brought to you by global investment manager Ninety One: https://ninetyone.com/en/south-africa Produced by Emilie Gambade, Joel Seboa & Bernard Kotze Original Theme Music & Design by Bernard Kotze You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify! Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick00:42 Personal Stance on Gambling 01:20 Gambling in South Africa: A Growing Crisis 01:59 Shocking Statistics and Research 02:45 Interview with Wendy Nola: Consumer Insights 03:38 The Impact of Advertising on Gambling 05:45 The Rise of Online Gambling 06:13 Personal Stories of Gambling Addiction 06:50 Economic Desperation and Gambling 10:28 Regulatory Environment and Accountability 11:15 Behavioral Engineering and Advertising 12:28 The Role of Banks and Self-Imposed Blocks 14:26 The Need for Legislative Action 25:04 Addressing the Gambling Crisis Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Judge Navi Pillay on Gaza, power and the future of international justice
In this episode of The Readiness Report with Redi Tlhabi, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay reflects on a lifetime spent pursuing justice, from defending anti-apartheid activists in South Africa to presiding over landmark international trials. As lead investigator of the recent UN report on Gaza, Judge Pillay discusses why she believes accountability still matters, even in the face of power, politics, and impunity. A conversation on the law and the weight of truth.“In 1967, Judge Navi Pillay became the first woman to open a law practice in Natal and later the first black woman appointed to South Africa’s High Court. She defended anti-apartheid activists before serving eight years at the UN’s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, four of them as president. A pioneer in international law, she has been especially influential in advancing justice for sexual violence in conflict.” (Source: International Criminal Court) This episode is brought to you by global investment manager Ninety One: https://ninetyone.com/en/south-africa Produced by Emilie Gambade & Joel SeboaEdited by Malibongwe TyiloOriginal Theme Music & Design by Bernard Kotze You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify!Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Whose Peace? Redi Tlhabi on Palestine’s Exclusion
In this episode of the Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi calls out world leaders for pushing a Gaza “peace plan” without Palestinians at the table. How can there be peace when the people at the heart of the conflict are excluded? This episode is brought to you by global investment manager Ninety One: https://ninetyone.com/en/south-africaProduced by Emilie Gambade, Joel Seboa & Bernard KotzeOriginal Theme Music & Design by Bernard KotzeYou can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify!Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick00:35 Breaking News: Death of South African Ambassador 01:08 Speculations and Historical Context 03:26 Transition to Main Topic: US Plan for Gaza 03:34 Overview of the US Plan for Gaza 04:07 Key Issues with the Plan 05:14 Core Elements of the Plan 07:07 Demilitarisation and Governance Concerns 09:27 Security and Reconstruction Challenges 12:00 Accountability and International Involvement 14:07 Regional Reactions and Controversies 17:59 Symbolic Actions and Their Implications 22:30 Conclusion: The Importance of Palestinian Consent Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Branko Brkic on why journalism is a light we cannot lose
Ahead of World News Day 2025, Daily Maverick co-founder and Project Kontinuum’s Leader Branko Brkic speaks to Rebecca Davis about the crisis facing global media, from Africa’s “media deserts” to growing distrust in journalism. In this candid conversation, he asks: if not the media, then what? And despite the challenges, he insists there is hope, grounded in the decency of ordinary people and the resilience of journalists worldwide.Hosted by: Rebecca Davis Guest: Branko BrkicProduced by Emilie Gambade, Joel Seboa & Bernard KotzeOriginal Theme Music & Design by Bernard KotzeYou can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify!Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick01:30 Project Kontinuum: An Overview 02:37 The Existential Threat to Civilization 03:11 The Role of Media in Crisis 03:46 Project Continuum's Mission 05:31 The Decline of Democracy and Media 06:17 The Urgency of Media Survival 07:10 World News Day: Importance and Impact 07:39 The Disappearance of News Media 11:27 Rebuilding Trust in Media 11:58 The Role of Social Media 15:47 Government and Consumer Roles in Supporting Media 21:44 Hope for the Future: Fighting for Truth Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Silencing Dissent: Redi Tlhabi with Karen Attiah on Voices Under Fire
Just a few days before World News Day - on 28 September - Redi Tlhabi is joined by Karen Attiah to confront the shrinking space for free expression. With Attiah’s own high-profile firing from the Washington Post as a backdrop, their conversation explores how powerful forces exploit polarisation, smear campaigns, and censorship to dilute truth and weaken journalism worldwide.This episode is brought to you by global investment manager Ninety One: https://ninetyone.com/en/south-africaProduced by Emilie Gambade, Joel Seboa & Bernard KotzeOriginal Theme Music & Design by Bernard KotzeYou can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify!Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick00:42 Press Freedom and Suppression02:25 The Information Ecosystem03:21 Media Ownership and Control04:04 Introducing Karen Attiah05:13 Karen's Firing and Public Reaction06:41 Obama's Support and Karen's Last Article09:25 The Charlie Kirk Incident19:35 The Broader Implications of Media Control22:50 Social Media's Influence on Journalism28:05 Corporate Media Acquisitions30:35 The Future of Independent Journalism Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
South Africa