This Is Politics SA Podcast

The ANC is facing one of its biggest political tests yet and the cracks are becoming impossible to ignore.

In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the growing battle between the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP), as the two historic Alliance partners prepare to compete against each other in the upcoming local government elections.

Why is the ANC struggling to finalise candidates? Has the party lost the ability to lead itself? And could the SACP breakaway take enough votes from the ANC to make a real difference in tightly contested municipalities?

The gents also examine South Africa’s worsening crisis of confidence in the police. New victims-of-crime survey findings suggest many South Africans simply don't report crimes because they no longer believe the police will do anything about them. What does that tell us about the true scale of crime and the relationship between citizens and the state?

Finally, they discuss Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s prolonged absence from public view and ask a broader question: should South Africans be asking more openly about the health and capacity of the leaders responsible for running the country?

From the ANC-SACP split to political paralysis and the growing public distrust of the state, this is another big conversation about where South Africa is heading.

**This Is Politics** with Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya.

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South Africa’s parallel state is back in the spotlight.

Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack explosive revelations around spy technology, organised crime and the Madlanga Commission, and ask how deeply criminal networks have penetrated the country’s security institutions.

They also examine the growing list of DA scandals, the party’s claims of clean government, and whether its credibility is being damaged ahead of the 4 November local government elections.

And with South Africa taking over the SADC chair, the gents ask whether the region’s leaders are finally ready to turn years of promises about industrialisation, manufacturing and mineral beneficiation into action.

From state capture to a possible criminal parallel state — who really holds power in South Africa?

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South Africa's unemployment crisis has reached another devastating milestone — 33.6%, with millions of South Africans out of work and youth unemployment climbing to 47.5%.

On this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya ask the uncomfortable question: why is South Africa failing to create jobs?

Is the problem economic policy? Slow growth? Red tape? The ANC's ideological baggage? Or has South Africa's political leadership simply run out of ideas?

The conversation then takes an even darker turn.

Justice and Mondli examine the killing of Hawks investigator Lieutenant Colonel Franz Matipa, the allegations surrounding an elite SANDF unit, the growing number of political assassinations in South Africa, and what these cases say about the state of the country's criminal justice system.

They also ask whether South Africa can afford to wait until the 2029 election before changing direction.

With unemployment, political leadership, crime, corruption and the future of South Africa all on the table, this is a conversation about a country facing some very serious consequences.

This Is Politics — South Africa's biggest political conversations, unpacked.

The Madlanga Commission has exposed troubling questions about South Africa's anti-corruption institutions and the people entrusted to protect them.

In this episode, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the dramatic testimony of Andrea Johnson, once celebrated as one of South Africa's most respected prosecutors and head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC). What does her testimony reveal about the state of the National Prosecuting Authority, the fight against corruption, and public trust in our justice system?

The conversation also explores the growing diplomatic tensions between South Africa and Ghana over allegations of xenophobia and illegal immigration, asking whether the country is facing an international reputational crisis.

From the future of the NPA to the effectiveness of Parliament, this is a deep dive into the institutions shaping South Africa's democracy.

Topics discussed:

The Madlanga Commission

Andrea Johnson's testimony

The future of IDAC and the NPA

Corruption and accountability

Parliament vs independent commissions

Ghana, xenophobia and illegal immigration

South Africa's international reputation

If you enjoy thoughtful political analysis and in-depth conversations about South Africa's future, subscribe for new episodes every week.

This week on This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack one of the biggest political stories of the year as IPID head Andrea Johnson resigns following explosive testimony before the Madlanga Commission.

What does her departure mean for the fight against corruption? Is South Africa finally confronting the networks that have infiltrated law enforcement, or is this just another chapter in a much bigger crisis?

The conversation then shifts to the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) — the institution responsible for managing over R4 trillion in public servants' pension money. With its board in turmoil and key executives suspended or gone, the hosts ask whether one of South Africa's most important financial institutions is facing another era of instability.

They also explore:

Why the Madlanga Commission continues to dominate South Africa's political conversation

The growing questions around Crime Intelligence and accountability

The role of Julius Malema and the EFF in recent revelations

Why institutions meant to protect democracy appear increasingly vulnerable

Whether South Africa is witnessing institutional reform — or institutional collapse

This is a conversation about power, accountability, corruption and the future of South Africa's democracy.

👇 Tell us in the comments:

Do you believe South Africa is finally cleaning up corruption, or are the problems simply too deep?

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