nothing works but the people

people power

After two years of unmet promises of renewal and sweeping change by the elected Government of National Unity (GNU) in South Africa, some citizens are ready to take matters into their own hands to ensure accountable governance.    A landmark citizens perceptions and expectations survey conducted in 2025, revealed that not only do people know what things are keeping them from accessing their basic needs, but also how they can better wield their individual and collective power to ensure them.    This episode unpacks the town hall meeting in which the survey findings were discussed and meaningfully built upon to empower participants across the country, ahead of a pivotal local government election in a few months.    This episode was created in collaboration with PlanAct, Act Ubumbano and the SIVIO Institute. It is another showing shortly production.   Show Notes:  Host, producer and editor: Pheladi Sethusa Junior producers: Siyanda Mthethwa and Salim Nkosi  Guests: Ambani Sandani, Albert Mkhabela, Mondli Mabuza and Eddah Jowah Sponsors: PlanAct, Act Ubumbano and the SIVIO Institute Music: The Fight is Over by Kirk Osamayo, Free Music Archive, CC BY; Step by Cyrus, Free Music Archive, CC BY   Resources:  * Citizens Perceptions and Expectation Survey 2025 (South Africa) [https://backend.sivioinstitute.org/uploads/South_Africa_CPE_survey_report_2025_d943b18bd6.pdf] * The SIVIO Institute [https://www.sivioinstitute.org/]  * Planact [https://www.planact.org.za/] * Act Ubumbano [https://www.actubumbano.org/]

the team unpacks on workers day

As the world observes and celebrates Internaltional Workers Day on May 1, 2026 – we take the opportunity to take stock of the season that was in a bonus episode. Co-producer, Kabir Jugram and host, Pheladi Sethusa speak about the work they do, the origins of ‘nothing works but the people’, reflect on the modern world of work and producing the first season together.   Show Notes: Host: Pheladi Sethusa Producer: Kabir Jugram Editing, writing and sound design: Pheladi Sethusa Graphic design: Mutsa Katsidzira Theme music: Trench Work by Ketsa, Free Music Archive, CC BY Additional music: Hanami Matsuri (花見祭り) by Fabian Measures, Free Music Archive, CC BY Additional sound: Crying by freesound-community on Pixabay This series is a Showing Shortly [https://showingshortly.com/]production. Sources cited in the episode and additional reading: * 12 Last Songs [https://qtine.com/work/12-last-songs-2/] * Notes on Surviving Trump by Sisonke Msimang [https://sisonkemsimang.substack.com/p/an-ode-to-doubt] * International Workers Day [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Workers%27_Day] * The history of MayDay in South Africa [https://sahistory.org.za/article/history-may-day-south-africa] * The Pod Place [https://wits.journalism.co.za/podcast-studio/] * Radio Workshop [https://radioworkshop.org/]

the thin advice between life and death

We’ve talked a lot about money this season, everything from how much people make to how they go about making more. In this sixth and final episode for this season, we speak to the people who help you manage the money you do have, safeguard it and grow it – financial advisors. They fall under the financial services sector and their work goes way beyond the sales component most of us are familiar with.   Show Notes: Host: Pheladi Sethusa Producer: Kabir Jugram Editing, writing and sound design: Pheladi Sethusa Graphic design: Mutsa Katsidzira Theme music: Trench Work by Ketsa, Free Music Archive, CC BY Additional music: Work by Steve Combs, Free Music Archive, CC BY This series is a Showing Shortly [https://showingshortly.com/]production and made possible thanks to grant funding from Africa No Filter [https://africanofilter.org/] and forms part of the Work Reimagined Storylab. Another big thanks to our publishing partners, the Currency News [https://currencynews.co.za/].   Sources cited in the episode:   * Statistics South Africa Quarterly Labour Force Survey [https://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1854&PPN=P0211] * The value of financial planning – Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa [https://fpi.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Research_Key_Insights_South_Africa.pdf] * How unequal is South Africa – Stats SA [https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=12930] * The risks of being underinsured - PSG [https://www.psg.co.za/news-and-publications/articles/feature/avoid-underinsurance] * Sheila-Ann Robey [https://sheilaannrobey.com/]

brewed and battered

According to research, South Africans are the fifth highest guzzlers of beer in the world, with the average drinker consuming an average of 30 litres of the golden stuff per year. In metros like Joburg, craft beers are slowly overtaking demand. In this episode, we take a slight shift in form to tell a truly extraordinary tale of one brewmaster's almost 20 year journey in the industry. Someone who has had a hand in creating some of the country's most renowned craft beers. His special recipes won awards but also led to betrayal more than once, but he refuses to be deterred and has just helped launch a raft of new brews taking the inner city by storm.     Show Notes: Host: Pheladi Sethusa Producer: Kabir Jugram Editing, writing and sound design: Pheladi Sethusa Graphic design: Mutsa Katsidzira Theme music: Trench Work by Ketsa, Free Music Archive, CC BY Additional music: A je to by Paweł Feszczuk, Free Music Archive, CC BY; Reflection Documentary Background by Jake Hunter, Free Music Archive, CC BY Additional sound effects: Freesound_Community, Pixabay, CC BY This series is a Showing Shortly [https://showingshortly.com/]production and made possible thanks to grant funding from Africa No Filter [https://africanofilter.org/] and forms part of the Work Reimagined Storylab. Another big thanks to our publishing partners, the Currency News [https://currencynews.co.za/]. Find all of our episodes here [https://nothingworksbutthepeople.podbean.com/]and contact the host on: pheladi@whowingshortly.com [pheladi@whowingshortly.com]    Sources cited in the episode: * Statistics South Africa Quarterly Labour Force Survey [https://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1854&PPN=P0211] * Adebiyi BO, Mukumbang FC. Alcohol ban during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: Lessons for preventing foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in South Africa. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9772652/] * Festive alcohol trends – Eighty20 [https://www.eighty20.co.za/festive-alcohol-trends-shaping-retail-behaviour-in-south-africa/] * Modelling the impact of beer excise taxes on consumption and revenue in South Africa (Policy Brief) [https://commerce.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/media/documents/commerce_uct_ac_za/1107/report-on-beer-modelling-170925.pdf] * South African Beer Market [https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/south-africa-beer-market-48794] * Craft brewing - Agribook [https://www.agribook.co.za/craft-brewing/] * Deadly drinks: A call for public awareness on the dangers of impure alcoholic beverages – University of Pretoria [https://www.up.ac.za/news/deadly-drinks-call-public-awareness-dangers-of-impure-alcoholic-beverages]

snip snip, chop chop

They say the relationship between one’s hair stylist is one of the most sacred and intimate bonds one can develop. More than just a place for personal grooming, sitting in a salon chair is a place of unburdening and vulnerability for both parties. In episode four of nothing works but the people, a hairdresser and barber share their workspace and workings with us.   Show Notes: Host: Pheladi Sethusa Producer: Kabir Jugram Editing, writing and sound design: Pheladi Sethusa Graphic design: Mutsa Katsidzira Theme music: Trench Work by Ketsa, Free Music Archive, CC BY This series is a Showing Shortly [https://showingshortly.com/]production and made possible thanks to grant funding from Africa No Filter [https://africanofilter.org/] and forms part of the Work Reimagined Storylab. Another big thanks to our publishing partners, the Currency News [https://currencynews.co.za/].   Additional readings and sources cited in the episode. * Statistics South Africa Quarterly Labour Force Survey [https://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1854&PPN=P0211] * National Bargaining Council – Collective Agreements [https://hcsbc.co.za/downloads/#Downloads-ColAgreements] * Grand National Hair [https://grandnational.co.za/] * The Legendary Barber [https://www.legends-barber.com/] * The comparison of hairdresser-customer communication: The analysis of communication themes in barbershops [https://ijonte.elapublishing.net/files/108/MAN/7-4/7-4-2.pdf] * The economics of hair dressing [https://www.dhet.gov.za/Research%20Bulletin%207/ResearchArticles16.html]