Democracy 101

Save our souls

In what condition is South Africa's soul? 3 decades into our democracy do we need to take a moment to look inside? Gareth and Jack are joined by author Oyama Mabandla, who's book titled The Soul of A Nation was the centre of the conversation. The 3 of them dissect…

23 Apr 45 min

Decentralised visions

Do South Africans truly have autonomy? Gareth and Jack are joined by the leaders of OHM (Organic Humanity Movement), Lauren Evanthia and Matthew Pienaar. The two explain how their over-arching aim is to protect and preserve individual liberty and humanity by instituting what they call a better form of democracy…

16 Apr 58 min

Democracy 101 : Perspective pulse

Can you make heads or tails of all the political messaging in the lead up to the elections? To clear up some of the noise surrounding the election, Gareth and Jack are joined by journalist and tv presenter, Lourensa Eckard. The 3 of them navigate the political landscape with Lourensa…

9 Apr 56 min

Democracy 101: Can South Africa arise?

How far has South Africa fallen and can it recover? This question formed the basis of Gareth and Jack's conversation with Arise South Africa's presidential candidate, Mpho Dagada. Things get heated as they go back and forth about some of the crucial issues facing the country.

2 Apr 1 hr 01 min

Democracy 101 : IEC

Where do you go if you cannot vote at the voting station you're registered at? Gareth and Jack are joined by Assistant Manager - Outreach at IEC, Moss Pitso to answer that question and more. We also find out what we do with a drunken voter.

27 Mar 42 min

Democracy 101 : Progress regressing?

Author Muzi Kuzwayo joins the team, and his first talking point is the comparison between the state of the country in 1994 vs the state of the country today, under the two different governments. Gareth, Jack and Muzi discuss old vs new ideologies, and the importance for youth to sit…

19 Mar 1 hour

The Elephant in the Room

Politics and Development specialist, Lukhona Mnguni joins Gareth and Jack to detail the Multi-Party Charter, and the conundrum around it. Gareth also asks whether this election will bring any big surprises. Powered by Podcast Party.

12 Mar 1 hr 04 min

Garbage In, Garbage Out

Camilla Bath, a journalist with 20 years’ experience, joins the team to chat about bias and objectivity in a world that’s heavily reliant on news. Camilla touches on the importance of knowing your sources, and how AI generators are “hugely skewed to a Western perspective.” Powered by Podcast Party.

29 Feb 56 min

Public Servants, not Celebrities

Dan Moyane sits down with Gareth and Jack to reminisce on an era that was brimming with hope and promise for a ‘new South Africa’. Dan touches on the failed promises made by the ruling party, and where to next for “this beautiful country”. Powered by Podcast Party.

20 Feb 54 min

Political Influencers

Xavier Bapoo, a self-taught political analyst, joins Gareth Cliff and Jack Motlanthe as they delve into paid political influencers, the comparison between manifestos and party constitutions, and the influence of major groups on the electoral process. Powered by Podcast Party.

13 Feb 58 min

Election Scenarios

What are the possible future scenarios for South Africa politically? Gareth Cliff and Jack Motlanthe speak to Greg Mills and Ray Hartley about their new book, ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’. They speak about what is required for a ‘Good’ outcome, discuss the ‘Bad’ scenario… and how difficult…

6 Feb 59 min

IEC Endeavours

Gareth Cliff and Jack Motlanthe speak to James Aphane, Electoral Operations Manager at the IEC and Matsobane Nkoko, the IEC’s Party Funding Manager about how party funding works and the operation of the election. They also discuss the challenge of fitting all the political parties on the ballot and new…

30 Jan 1 hr 09 min

Voters’ Views in 2024

Gareth Cliff and Jack Motlanthe speak to Dr Frans Cronje of the Social Research Foundation about their latest findings. In a wide-ranging conversation, they cover the rising level of protests, what happens when protest action peaks, and why many young people are reluctant to vote. They also discuss what the…

23 Jan 1 hr 03 min

Democracy 101: Basics of Democracy

Advocate Mark Oppenheimer joins Gareth Cliff and Jack Motlanthe to discuss the history and basics of the concept of democracy.

16 Jan 1 hr 08 min

Your Vote, Your Voice

Gareth and Jack kick off the first episode of Democracy 101 of 2024 with Duma ‘The Intern’. Duma is currently leading the Voter Voices in Politics movement at CliffCentral, which asks the youth of South Africa some hard questions and encourages thought-provoking conversations about the upcoming elections.

9 Jan 51 min

Elections 101

Has Jacob Zuma just thrown the biggest spanner in the works with his support for the MK party? Gareth and Bakh’abantu are joined by Wayne Sussman, an independent election analyst. Together, they analyse the upcoming elections, looking ahead to where our current government might stand in 2024.

19 Dec 2023 49 min

SA's Youth on Politics

Gareth and Bakh’abantu invite Bafana Modise to kick off VVIP - a new podcast on CliffCentral, spotlighting the energetic voices of South Africa's youth about the upcoming elections. Special guest Mbali Ntuli, CEO of the Groundwork Collective and a former politician, joins the conversation to discuss the movement's significance and…

12 Dec 2023 56 min

What is Democracy?

A new feature on The Gareth Cliff Show kicks off, to talk about the meaning of democracy in South Africa. Masego Sheburi - Deputy CEO of the IEC - joins Gareth Cliff and Bakh’abantu Gaqa to discuss the upcoming elections and the role of the IEC within the process. Masego…

5 Dec 2023 57 min

Introducing Democracy 101

What is democracy? Democracy 101 is your guide to understanding the principles, challenges and history of democratic systems worldwide. This series shares insights, expert interviews and real-life stories that aim to empower and equip you with knowledge to make better decisions when it comes to voting. Starts 5 December 2023.

4 Dec 2023 1 min