This Is Politics SA Podcast

What Hill-Lewis Can Teach Ramaphosa

Has the war between the United States, Israel and Iran really ended — or is this merely the beginning of a new chapter in Middle Eastern instability? Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack Donald Trump's latest Iran deal, ask whether Tehran emerged stronger than expected, and examine what the agreement means for Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu and the wider region. They also turn their attention to South African politics, where newly elected DA leader Jordan Hill-Lewis appears to be moving swiftly to consolidate power, with John Steenhuisen among the first casualties of a dramatic political reshuffle. From Washington to Tehran, Jerusalem to Cape Town, this episode explores power, leadership, political survival and the consequences of decisions made far from ordinary citizens. #ThisIsPolitics #SouthAfrica #DonaldTrump #Iran #Israel #MiddleEast #JordanHillLewis #DA #Politics

RAMAPHOSA VS JUNE 30

s South Africa races toward the controversial June 30 deadline set by anti-illegal immigration groups, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the rising tensions around migration, border control, government inaction, and the growing threat of vigilantism. Did President Cyril Ramaphosa's long-awaited address to the nation provide leadership, or merely repeat familiar promises? Why has public trust in government collapsed to such an extent that fringe activists now appear to be setting the national agenda? The conversation examines the role of corruption in South Africa's immigration system, the state's sudden flurry of activity ahead of June 30, and whether the country is heading toward confrontation or finding a path to de-escalation. The pair also turn their attention to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the United States' increasingly restrictive immigration policies threaten to overshadow the spirit of a global tournament built on openness and international unity. A discussion about leadership, accountability, democracy, and the uneasy state of a country facing difficult questions about its future.

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

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.

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?