Conviction or convenience - what drives Floyd Shivambu?
What does South Africa need now, according to Floyd Shivambu? And will he be the answer to our political problems? Phumi Mashigo unpacks the evolution behind the headlines with him - from the ANC Youth League to the EFF, a stint in MK, and now his role in shaping the Afrika Maibuye Movement. Is this reinvention or conviction in motion? Floyd speaks candidly about ideological consistency, political disillusionment, organisational decay, and why he believes South Africa still needs a true revolutionary movement. If you've ever wondered what motivates a strategist to abandon comfort for controversy, this conversation is essential listening. The Burning Platform
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Can Helen Zille Really Save Johannesburg?
Johannesburg is falling apart - power cuts, potholes, broken pipes,
waste piling up, and corruption choking the city that once symbolised
South Africa’s promise. But one of the country’s most formidable
political figures says she can fix it. Phumi Mashigo sits down with
Helen Zille, the former Mayor of Cape Town, Western Cape Premier, and
now 2026 Johannesburg Mayoral candidate for the Democratic Alliance.
She’s one of the most polarising voices in South African politics, and
the question that everyone’s been whispering is asked: Can she really
save Johannesburg? The Burning Platform
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Local Government – Down but not out
Local government is meant to be the heartbeat of democracy. But as cities crumble, services collapse, and trust erodes, South Africans are asking: can our municipalities still be saved? In this episode of Democracy Unplugged, host Phumi Mashigo leads an honest discussion with a panel of political leaders tackling the state of local governance ahead of the 2026 municipal elections. From collapsing infrastructure to coalition chaos as well as lessons from the GNU, this episode asks what real local leadership should look like in 2026 and beyond. The Burning Platform
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How to break the corruption chain, with Xavier Bapoo, Stefan Grobler and Mike Bolhuis
What does it really take to root out corruption in South Africa?
Stand-in host Xavier Bapoo speaks to former South African Police Service
(SAPS) Anti-Corruption Unit head Stefan Grobler and specialist
investigator Mike Bolhuis about the deep-seated culture of corruption
exposed by the Madlanga Commission. This conversation lays bare the
forces eroding accountability, looking at political interference, the
dismantling of anti-corruption structures to the risks faced by
investigators on the front lines, exploring what it will take to rebuild
integrity and justice in South Africa’s institutions, and more. The Burning Platform
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South Africa's voice in the G20
What does South Africa’s G20 presidency mean for the country’s future?
In this episode of LevelUp, Phumi speaks with Ercilia Mata Ubisse, Regional Head for the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) and a member of the Startup20 Foundations & Alliances Taskforce, to unpack how small business, collaboration, and policy can reshape global development from an African lens. The Burning Platform
After a decade run as South Africa’s first and longest-running online current affairs show, The Burning Platform, launched alongside CliffCentral.com in 2014 with Gareth Cliff and Justice Malala, is levelling up – Level Up with Phumi Mashigo. Phumi a founder host of CliffCentral and current Burning Platform co-anchor, will continue to bring insightful perspectives and questioning with thought leaders, politicians and social commentators on the critical issues that affect our lives. Podcasts available on Podcast Party app, website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms.
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