Democracy Unplugged

Following our previous education discussion, a clearer picture begins to emerge: one defined not just by underperformance, but by mounting pressure. Demand is rising faster than capacity, and while the state continues to expand its role, it’s increasingly doing so through partnerships that sit adjacent to the system itself.

So what does this mean in practice? As the model of education begins to shift toward more specialised pathways, the tension between ambition and delivery becomes harder to ignore. In this episode, Phumi Mashigo explores that gap, and brings in Onwabile Lubhelwana, spokesperson to the Gauteng MEC for Basic Education Lebogang Maile, to understand how this evolving system is being carried forward today. The Burning Platform

South Africa is a young democracy, yet its voters are ageing while optimism continues to fade. Every election cycle raises the same concerns about youth disengagement and low voter turnout, but the deeper issue may not be a lack of understanding—it may be a loss of belief in impact. For many young people, participation is no longer seen as a meaningful tool for change, especially in the face of corruption, unemployment, and poor service delivery. This conversation explores whether democracy is still showing up in people’s daily lives in a way they can recognise, and challenges the idea that disengagement is harmless. Instead, it argues that stepping away from the process may actually weaken the very system capable of driving change, making active participation more important than ever for shaping South Africa’s future. The Burning Platform

What has 30 years of education reform in South Africa actually produced?

For more than three decades, James Urdang has worked at the intersection

of education, civil society, and social change. As the founder of

Education Africa, his work has been shaped by a clear belief that

education remains one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle

of poverty.

What makes his perspective especially valuable is not only what he has

built, but what he has witnessed over time. From the early years of

democratic transformation to the realities facing schools today, his

journey offers a rare long view of how the system has evolved. This

conversation with Phumi Mashigo asks a difficult but necessary question.

After three decades of effort, investment, and ambition, what progress

can we truly see, and what still remains unfinished? The Burning Platform

Who is responsible when service delivery stops working, and how do we

fix it? Phumi Mashigo moderates this timely conversation with a panel of

politicians on the state of infrastructure in South Africa’s urban

centres, the barriers to delivery, and the solutions needed to rebuild

confidence in our cities. Featuring Freedom Front Plus’ Jaco Mulder,

political commentator and Youtuber June Hlongwane and DA's Kingsol

Chabalala. The Burning Platform

Nearly 30 years into democracy, why are housing rights still being

fought for in court? Housing is a constitutional right in South Africa,

yet for millions of people it remains out of reach. In this episode,

Phumi Mashigo sits down with Nomzamo Zondo, Executive Director:

Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) to unpack the reality behind

evictions, informal settlements, and the widening gap between what the

Constitution promises and what people actually experience. From court

battles that prevent families from losing their homes to the slow pace

of government delivery, the conversation explores why housing rights are

still being fought for in court, the tension between law, policy and

real-life implementation, and how informal settlements continue to shape

the country’s cities. At its core, it asks a critical question: if the

Constitution is clear, why are so many South Africans still without

secure housing? The Burning Platform