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. Jun 2

    The Shamelessness of the MKP and Mkhwebane

    South Africa is in a period of profound political, social and economic uncertainty. Rising unemployment, growing anti-immigration sentiment, crumbling municipalities and an increasingly fragmented political landscape have left many citizens questioning the country's direction. In this episode of *This Is Politics South Africa*, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya step back from the daily headlines to examine the bigger picture. How does South Africa's turmoil fit into a world increasingly defined by political instability, conflict and division? Are we facing uniquely South African problems, or are we experiencing the same convulsions affecting democracies across the globe? The discussion explores the growing tensions around immigration, the resilience of South Africa's democratic institutions, and the irony surrounding the parliamentary impeachment process facing President Cyril Ramaphosa. The hosts unpack the backgrounds of some of the politicians tasked with judging the president and ask whether Parliament is taking one of the most serious constitutional processes in the country's history seriously enough. They also examine the appointment of Rise Mzansi leader Makashule Gana to chair the impeachment committee and discuss what this moment could mean for accountability, democratic governance and South Africa's political future. A wide-ranging conversation about democracy, leadership, political hypocrisy, and the state of the nation. #ThisIsPoliticsSA #SouthAfrica #CyrilRamaphosa #Impeachment #MKParty #Politics #MondliMakhanya #JusticeMalala #GNU #Parliament #RiseMzansi #CurrentAffairs

    29 min

  2. May 28

    The ANC Leadership Crisis Nobody Can Hide Anymore

    outh Africa’s political landscape is shifting fast. As anti-illegal immigration groups ramp up pressure ahead of their June 30 deadline, questions around leadership, governance and collapsing municipalities are becoming impossible to ignore. In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack: • Operation Dudula and rising anti-immigration tensions • Why the ANC is struggling to find mayoral candidates • The battle for Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni • Helen Zille, Herman Mashaba and coalition politics • Why Cape Town keeps dominating the governance conversation • The long-term damage of the Zuma era • Whether South Africa’s metros can still be saved This is one of the most important political battles heading into the next local government elections.

    39 min

  3. May 27

    Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and the Missing Prosecutor

    A prosecutor vanishes. A magistrate throws out the case. One of the most feared men in Mpumalanga walks free. This week on This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the extraordinary courtroom drama involving Joe Ferrari Sibanyoni, the missing prosecutor, and the growing questions around South Africa’s justice system. Was this incompetence? Institutional collapse? Or something even more troubling? The conversation goes far beyond one courtroom and asks a deeper question: can ordinary South Africans still trust the administration of justice?

    39 min

  4. May 19

    Nobody Wants Cyril Ramaphosa To Fall

    The Constitutional Court has thrown the Phalaphala matter back into Parliament and suddenly Cyril Ramaphosa’s biggest political scandal is alive again. In this explosive episode of This Is Politics SA, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack what the judgment really means, why the ANC is rallying around Ramaphosa, and whether South Africa’s political elite are protecting the President because they fear what comes next. From Arthur Fraser’s role in exposing the scandal to the ANC’s history of shielding its leaders, the conversation asks the uncomfortable question: if Phalaphala “stinks”, why does nobody want Cyril to fall?

    50 min

  5. May 6

    SA ATTACKS: IT’S NOT XENOPHOBIA, IT’S STATE FAILURE

    Why are South Africans angry at immigrants and are they blaming the wrong people? In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya ask a controversial question: what was Cyril Ramaphosa doing visiting Emmerson Mnangagwa privately at a time when Zimbabwe’s political crisis continues to drive migration into South Africa? As anti-immigrant sentiment rises ahead of the November 4 elections, the discussion expands into Operation Dudula, political opportunism, and growing public anger. But at its core, this episode challenges the narrative: if leadership failures both in South Africa and Zimbabwe created this crisis, why is the anger directed at those fleeing it?

    44 min

  6. Apr 22

    The ANC-SACP Split Explained & Corruption in SAPS

    In this episode of This Is Politics South Africa, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya examine the growing fracture between the ANC and the South African Communist Party, placing it in historical context and questioning whether the split has real political consequences. The discussion also turns to corruption within the police, and what it reveals about the state of governance and accountability in South Africa. With a focus on analysis rather than noise, the episode explores whether these developments signal meaningful change or simply the continuation of a deeper systemic decline.

    47 min

  7. Apr 16

    When Impunity Meets the Law: Julius Malema Sentenced

    In this episode of This Is Politics South Africa, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the explosive sentencing of Julius Malema, who has been handed a five-year prison term for unlawful possession of a firearm. The discussion traces his political rise from the Congress of South African Students to leading the Economic Freedom Fighters, exploring the long-standing perception of impunity that has followed him throughout his career. The hosts examine whether his legal and political strategy backfired, the risks of turning a courtroom battle into a political stage, and what this moment means for accountability, leadership, and the future of South African politics.

    48 min

  8. Mar 24

    Two Investigations, One Crisis - Madlanga vs Ad Hoc Committee Explained

    Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the growing crisis at the heart of South Africa’s criminal justice system. From explosive allegations of political interference in policing to the stark contrast between the Madalanga Commission and Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, this episode asks a critical question: are we still in control — or is the system slipping away? As evidence of deep-rooted corruption emerges, the implications for safety, accountability, and the future of South Africa have never been more urgent.

    39 min
See All (20)

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
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © This Is Politics SA Podcast
  • Show Website
    This Is Politics SA Podcast

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