The cholera outbreak in Tshwane has again put the spotlight on the crisis in local government negatively impacting service delivery to citizens.  Local government is often regarded as the coalface at which the state delivers citizens’ basic needs. But what is their recourse when it fails to do so, as is the case in much of the country?  To explore the matter, we are joined on Sunday Times Politics Weekly by Dr Sithembile Mbete, a lecturer in the department of political sciences at the University of Pretoria and an associate fellow at its Centre for Governance Innovation, and Sandile Swana, a political analyst and governance expert.

Mass deportation of illegal foreigners, death penalty, cancelling race — some of the (things) Gayton McKenzie says he will do when he becomes president. In a robust conversation on the Sunday Times Politics weekly with the Patriotic Alliance leader, McKenzie says he knows he will become SA president and laid down his objectives which “are all anti-SA constitution”, which he labelled as hypocritical. “I know I’m gonna be the president of this country and God will come back to South Africa.” McKenzie spoke on being a gang leader and how his life transformed through God. The former mayor of the Central Karoo District blames illegal foreigners for all SA’s problems and wants everyone to walk around with identification. On the podcast he elaborated on the six things he stands for which are: 1. Bring God back to schools: “God will come back to South Africa” 2. National service, conscription: “military” 3. Mass deportation of illegal foreigners: “all our problems stem from illegal foreigners. They will leave.” 4. Bring back the death penalty: “you kill, I kill you” 5. Stop exportation of our unrefined minerals: “we shall get the maximum benefit from our minerals” 6. Cancel race: “how long are white kids gonna pay for the sins of their grandparents?” Current coalition governments, notably in the big metros, have been characterised by instability and infighting, in which the PA has been an important player. He explained why he withdrew from contesting for the Joburg mayor position as he could not assure his coalition partners on what they wanted him to stand for and how he changed support for former Joburg mayor Thapelo Amad as he was “faced with facts”. He says the PA is open to coalition with any political party next year as it wants power like any other party, and says one of the options next year after elections include the PA deciding who will be president. He joined in studio Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma and producer Bulelani Nonyukela for a vigorous conversation.

Amid the ICC arrest warrant, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit has been intensely debated in the ANC NEC.  SA was also naive for not making provisions to protect itself when it joined the International Criminal Court. We hear from our guests on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast this week. Previously, we discussed the dilemma faced by our government after the ICC’s issuing of an arrest warrant for Putin, who is due to attend the Brics summit in Durban in August. Since then the problem has become more acute. The government is still scrambling for a solution as the clock ticks by. This week the issue boiled down to whether SA should leave the ICC. The broader question is whether our foreign policy has completely lost its way. Sunday Times presidential correspondent Amanda Khoza gives us insights into the NEC considerations on Putin’s visit, while UJ professor Sphamandla Zondi shares expert analysis on SA’s dilemma.

Amid continuing uncertainty in the leadership of metros in Gauteng, ActionSA has tabled motions of no-confidence against the current mayor Thapelo Amad and speaker of Johannesburg, Colleen Makhubele. To talk about what seems like a drastic step, and other issues afflicting party coalitions as well as ActionSA's way forward going into the 2024 elections, host Mike Siluma is joined by ActionSA National Chairperson, Michael Beaumont.

Our country has been placed in a quandary after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant of arrest for Russian President Vladimir Putin which compels SA, as a signatory to the ICC’s Rome Statute, to arrest him if he visits South Africa. International relations minister Naledi Pandor has said Russian is an old, historic friend which supported the fight against apartheid. Putin is expected to visit South Africa in August to attend a Brics summit and the country has been ordered to arrest him over alleged atrocities in the Ukraine war. South Africa has remained neutral in the war but is now obliged to arrest the head of a co-member state. That’s the acute dilemma discussed on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast with UJ’s Prof Sphamandla Zondi and Wits University's Prof William Gumede, who help us unpack the ICC’s power, consequences for honouring or dishonouring the warrant, the possible ways SA can get out of the awkward situation, and other issues.