This Is Politics SA Podcast

This Is Politics SA Podcast

This Is Politics SA Podcast is the home of unfiltered conversations about power, people, and the country we’re all trying to build. Hosted by Justice malala and veteran political commentator Mondli Makhanya, the show cuts through the noise with insight, honesty, and the kind of chemistry you only get when hosts actually love the conversation. No scripts. No spin. Just two voices breaking down South Africa’s political reality in a way that’s sharp, accessible, and unexpectedly entertaining. From big-picture analysis to the small details that reveal everything, this podcast brings you closer to the stories shaping the nation. If you’re tired of shallow takes, tired of confusing headlines, or just want a space that treats politics like it matters welcome home. This Is Politics Podcast — where clarity meets conversation.

  1. 2d ago

    The ANC Could Lose Its Biggest Cities. Will Voters Make It Happen?”

    Heading to the polls on November 4, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya examine the battle for the country’s biggest metros, the growing frustration over poor service delivery, and whether voter anger will finally translate into political change. The conversation turns to Johannesburg’s water crisis and the controversy surrounding Mayor Dada Morero’s remarks about when a lack of water becomes a crisis. Why do so many communities go without reliable water, and what does this say about the state of local government? The gents also examine Helen Zille’s campaign in Johannesburg, Nasiphi Moya’s growing personal popularity in Tshwane, the ANC’s reluctance to put forward clear mayoral candidates, and whether the DA’s national leadership has missed an opportunity by focusing on Cape Town. With coalition politics likely to shape the next phase of local government, the stakes go beyond which party wins the most votes. Justice and Mondli discuss what losing control of major metros could mean for the ANC, the changing balance of power in KwaZulu-Natal, and whether voters are ready to demand more from the people who govern them. Will South Africans use their votes to punish parties that have failed them, or will voter apathy allow the status quo to survive? Watch, subscribe and join the conversation in the comments. Follow This Is Politics on social media: @thisispoliticssa #ThisIsPolitics #SouthAfricanPolitics #LocalGovernmentElections #ANC #Johannesburg

  2. 5d ago

    Cyril Must Fire Gwede Mantashe NOW

    Is Gwede Mantashe untouchable in the ANC? On this episode of **This Is Politics**, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya look at the controversies surrounding one of the ANC’s most powerful figures. From his battles within the party and his comments about young people to questions about mining licences and allegations involving ANC councillors in the platinum belt, the discussion looks at how much power Mantashe holds and where accountability comes in. The conversation also turns to the economy and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s latest budget. Is South Africa finally getting its economic house in order? And even if things are stabilising, what does that mean for the millions of people still struggling to find work and keep up with the cost of living? Justice and Mondli discuss what it will take to get the economy growing faster, attract investment and create real opportunities for ordinary South Africans. They also get into South Africa’s shrinking refinery capacity, Dangote’s plans for the oil industry and whether anti-foreigner sentiment could put much-needed investment at risk. With local government elections approaching, the bigger question is whether anyone is being held accountable for what happens in this country. Who is delivering, who is failing, and why do some politicians seem to survive every controversy? **This Is Politics** looks at South African politics, the people who hold power and how their decisions affect the rest of us. Subscribe to the channel, join the conversation in the comments and tell us: **Does anyone in the ANC ever become too powerful to hold accountable?** Follow us on social media: @thisispoliticssa #ThisIsPolitics #SouthAfricanPolitics #GwedeMantashe #ANC #SouthAfrica

  3. Oct 12

    South Africans Are Angry - So Why Don’t They Vote?

    With South Africa just one month away from local government elections, the biggest question may not be who wins but whether South Africans still believe winning an election can actually change their lives. Voter apathy is growing, but is South Africa really becoming apathetic or are people simply angry and losing faith in the political system?Turnout has declined over the years, while frustration over electricity, water, jobs, crime and basic services continues to fuel protests and public anger. Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the tension between **political apathy and political anger**, and ask what happened to the belief that voting could make tomorrow better. They examine whether the ANC's long dominance has damaged faith not only in government, but in democracy itself and whether new political forces can restore that trust. Then, the debate over the return of the death penalty raises an even bigger question: why are South Africans increasingly turning towards extreme solutions? Is it simply anger about crime, or is it a symptom of a state that people no longer believe is doing its job? From voter apathy and local government to crime, the death penalty, immigration and the responsibilities of citizens between elections, this is a conversation about something bigger than November's vote: Do South Africans still believe politics can change anything? #ThisIsPolitics #SouthAfrica #SouthAfricanPolitics #VoterApathy #LocalElections #Democracy #Voting #DeathPenalty

  4. Sep 17

    SA Politics Heats Up

    With local government elections less than 50 days away, the political temperature is rising. Phumi Mashigo sits down with Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya to unpack the ANC’s candidate-list chaos, the DA’s missed opportunities, MK’s rise in KwaZulu-Natal and whether the EFF has lost its political edge. Plus: Ramaphosa’s leadership in Africa, Trump and the US midterms, Europe’s shift to the right — and what all of it tells us about the changing face of political leadership.

  5. Sep 3

    The ANC is losing the ability to even lead itself

    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. #ThisIsPolitics #SouthAfrica #ANC #SACP #SouthAfricanPolitics #LocalElections #ANCvsSACP #Crime #SouthAfricaPolitics

  6. Aug 20

    South Africa’s Parallel State Is Being Exposed

    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? #ThisIsPolitics #SouthAfrica #StateCapture #MadlangaCommission #DA #SADC #PoliticsSA

  7. Aug 13

    33.6% Unemployment: How Did South Africa Get Here?

    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.

  8. Aug 3

    Madlanga Shows Politicians How Corruption Is Fought

    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.

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About

This Is Politics SA Podcast is the home of unfiltered conversations about power, people, and the country we’re all trying to build. Hosted by Justice malala and veteran political commentator Mondli Makhanya, the show cuts through the noise with insight, honesty, and the kind of chemistry you only get when hosts actually love the conversation. No scripts. No spin. Just two voices breaking down South Africa’s political reality in a way that’s sharp, accessible, and unexpectedly entertaining. From big-picture analysis to the small details that reveal everything, this podcast brings you closer to the stories shaping the nation. If you’re tired of shallow takes, tired of confusing headlines, or just want a space that treats politics like it matters welcome home. This Is Politics Podcast — where clarity meets conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    This Is Politics SA Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © This Is Politics SA Podcast
  • Show Website
    This Is Politics SA Podcast

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