TimesLIVE Podcasts Sunday Times Politics Weekly

Sunday Times Politics Weekly

The weekly political show by top journalists of the Sunday Times discussing the week's biggest stories, toughest topics in a tight and guided conversation.

An Arena Holdings Production.

Keywords: podcast, analysis, politics, social justice, news commentary, economy, opinions, accountability
Weekly English South Africa News · Government
178 Episodes
12 – 32

Fikile Mbalula on ANC governance going into 2024, Ace Magashule, Putin's visit

In a wide-ranging conversation with ‘Sunday Times Politics Weekly’, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula speaks on the ANC, his predecessor Ace Magashule who faces possible expulsion from the party, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mbalula reflected on his tenure as party SG and assessed the ruling party under the leadership of…
3 Jun 2023 41 min

Cholera crisis: what to do with non-performing local government?

The cholera outbreak in Tshwane has again put the spotlight on the crisis in local government negatively impacting service delivery to citizens.  Local government is often regarded as the coalface at which the state delivers citizens’ basic needs. But what is their recourse when it fails to do so, as…
25 May 2023 36 min

Why Gayton McKenzie thinks he’ll be SA president and six things he stands for

Mass deportation of illegal foreigners, death penalty, cancelling race — some of the (things) Gayton McKenzie says he will do when he becomes president. In a robust conversation on the Sunday Times Politics weekly with the Patriotic Alliance leader, McKenzie says he knows he will become SA president and laid…
18 May 2023 35 min

Arrest Putin or not — has SA’s foreign policy lost its way?

Amid the ICC arrest warrant, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit has been intensely debated in the ANC NEC.  SA was also naive for not making provisions to protect itself when it joined the International Criminal Court. We hear from our guests on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast this…
4 May 2023 34 min

ActionSA lays down the line for coalitions

Amid continuing uncertainty in the leadership of metros in Gauteng, ActionSA has tabled motions of no-confidence against the current mayor Thapelo Amad and speaker of Johannesburg, Colleen Makhubele. To talk about what seems like a drastic step, and other issues afflicting party coalitions as well as ActionSA's way forward going…
13 Apr 2023 29 min

How Ramaphosa can defuse the Putin arrest hot potato

Our country has been placed in a quandary after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant of arrest for Russian President Vladimir Putin which compels SA, as a signatory to the ICC’s Rome Statute, to arrest him if he visits South Africa. International relations minister Naledi Pandor has said Russian…
30 Mar 2023 35 min

Ramaphosa’s cabinet reshuffle was to please ANC, not the country

The recent cabinet reshuffle was not intended to address South Africa's crises but to satisfy ANC factions. And Gwede Mantashe and Pravin Gordhan will call the shots regarding electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. The two ministers, Mantashe (energy) and Gordhan (public enterprises), might overpower the new electricity minister who was brought in…
9 Mar 2023 22 min

Without political will, can South Africa’s corruption crisis be overcome?

Guilty players castigating former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter expose their lack of commitment to solve corruption crisis, argued Lawson Naidoo and Wayne Duvenhage on the 'Sunday Times Politics weekly'. De Ruyter made claims of how corruption brought the power utility to its knees. The ANC party has challenged him…
2 Mar 2023 29 min

The crime problem: why it persists, trends, solutions and the political will

The latest crime stats indicate that, despite government’s promises to contain it, crime is getting worse, posing a threat to the country and its people — that’s the focus of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast this week. The head of justice & violence prevention at the Institute for Security…
23 Feb 2023 29 min

Coalition chaos — why we must hold elected politicians accountable

The latest local authority elections have been hailed as an indicator of the rapidly waning influence of the ANC. But they also gave us a foretaste of what life might be like under a national coalition government. To date, that foretaste has at times been sweet, and at other times…
2 Feb 2023 30 min

We all know the solution: get the politicians out of Eskom

As power generation crumbles around our ears, experts are calling to have politicians ousted from Eskom's decision-making processes. South Africa in the throes of the worst power crisis in history and the government has again promised it has a plan to end load-shedding. But given previous empty promises, what is…
26 Jan 2023 29 min

Will forcing politicians to use public services solve service delivery woes?

One of the biggest problems in our country is the failure of the state to provide quality services to us, the citizens – such as public health services, transport and education. This week Sunday Times columnist Prof William Gumede wrote that the solution lies in forcing political leaders to use…
19 Jan 2023 30 min

Zweli Mkhize on ANC presidency, Digital Vibes and Cyril Ramaphosa

On Sunday Times Politics Weekly, Zweli Mkhize chats about what he will do if he is elected ANC president at the party's elective conference this weekend, Digital Vibes corruption allegations and the growing support he has received since being nominated. The former health minister received 916 nominations for the position,…
14 Dec 2022 37 min

A fish rots from the head & the ANC's NEC nominees are giving off a stink

The much-anticipated ANC national conference takes place next week at Nasrec in Johannesburg. Apart from providing policy direction for the organisation, one of the key tasks of the conference will be to choose a new party leadership. But unfortunately for the party, none of its nominated leaders join the fray…
8 Dec 2022 32 min

One on one with ANC treasurer-general contender Pule Mabe

Pule Mabe joins Sunday Times Politics Weekly to reflect on his tenure as ANC spokesperson, speaks about contesting for a top 6 position, competition, dubious cadres and party electoral decline. Mabe is running for the position of treasurer-general alongside presidency special adviser Benjamin Chauke, who received 552 nominations, and recently…
30 Nov 2022 38 min

Masualle on why Ramaphosa must go, ANC factions, NEC, Mkhize as president

Public enterprises deputy minister Phumulo Masualle, chatting to Sunday Times Politics Weekly, says some candidates for the ANC top six don’t deserve support. He motivates why President Cyril Ramaphosa's time in office has expired and rallies behind former health minister Zweli Mkhize. Ramaphosa and Mkhize are the only candidates running…
23 Nov 2022 36 min

Mdumiseni Ntuli diagnoses the ANC, chats Zuma incarceration fabrications

ANC “top six” contender Mdumiseni Ntuli spoke to Sunday Times Politics Weekly. He assesses the governing party and speaks about “lies” he found himself embroiled in with former KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala, including plotting to have former president Jacob Zuma incarcerated. Ntuli is running for the secretary-general position. He is…
21 Nov 2022 38 min

Mashatile talks positions, SOEs, Phala Phala, former presidents

Paul Mashatile hosted the Sunday Times Politics Weekly team at his home to chat, rolling up his sleeves to be “hands on deck” if elected ANC deputy president next month. He is ANC treasurer-general and speaks about his rise to the position. The governing party will elect its new leadership…
16 Nov 2022 31 min
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