Daily Maverick

In this episode of The Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi reflects on Johannesburg, a city rich in promise, the economic heart of Southern Africa, yet held back by poor leadership and indifference. “You can modernise it, clean it up, put in all the cosmetic fixes you want,” she says. “But without vision, and without people who care, Johannesburg will not thrive.”

This episode is brought to you by global investment manager Ninety One: https://ninetyone.com/en/south-africa

Produced by Emilie Gambade, Joel Seboa & Bernard Kotze
Original Theme Music & Design by Bernard Kotze

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify!

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01:00 Moderating the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture 
01:30 Personal Connection to Johannesburg 
03:09 Challenges with City Services 
07:20 Billing System Woes 
09:02 Personal Experiences with Overbilling 
18:07 The Decision to Sell the House 
19:34 Observations on Johannesburg's Infrastructure 
21:06 Cosmetic Changes for G20 
22:57 Comparing International Practices 
24:03 Positive Experiences in Washington 
24:48 The Importance of Dignity and Smart Practices

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South Africa’s gambling industry just hit R1.5 trillion and it’s not just for fun anymore. Behind the flashing lights are stories of poverty, desperation, and survival. In today’s episode of The Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi talks to Wendy Knowler, Consumer Journalist at News24, about how gambling has quietly become one of the country’s biggest social and economic fault lines.

This episode is brought to you by global investment manager Ninety One: 
https://ninetyone.com/en/south-africa 

Produced by Emilie Gambade, Joel Seboa & Bernard Kotze 
Original Theme Music & Design by Bernard Kotze 

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify! 
Support journalism that protects democracy. 
Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick

00:42 Personal Stance on Gambling 
01:20 Gambling in South Africa: A Growing Crisis 
01:59 Shocking Statistics and Research 
02:45 Interview with Wendy Nola: Consumer Insights 
03:38 The Impact of Advertising on Gambling 
05:45 The Rise of Online Gambling 
06:13 Personal Stories of Gambling Addiction 
06:50 Economic Desperation and Gambling 
10:28 Regulatory Environment and Accountability 
11:15 Behavioral Engineering and Advertising 
12:28 The Role of Banks and Self-Imposed Blocks 
14:26 The Need for Legislative Action 
25:04 Addressing the Gambling Crisis

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In this episode of The Readiness Report with Redi Tlhabi, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay reflects on a lifetime spent pursuing justice, from defending anti-apartheid activists in South Africa to presiding over landmark international trials. As lead investigator of the recent UN report on Gaza, Judge Pillay discusses why she believes accountability still matters, even in the face of power, politics, and impunity. A conversation on the law and the weight of truth.

“In 1967, Judge Navi Pillay became the first woman to open a law practice in Natal and later the first black woman appointed to South Africa’s High Court. She defended anti-apartheid activists before serving eight years at the UN’s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, four of them as president. A pioneer in international law, she has been especially influential in advancing justice for sexual violence in conflict.” (Source: International Criminal Court)

This episode is brought to you by global investment manager Ninety One: 
https://ninetyone.com/en/south-africa

Produced by Emilie Gambade & Joel Seboa
Edited by Malibongwe Tyilo
Original Theme Music & Design by Bernard Kotze

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify!

Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. 
https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including YouTube, Apple Podcast and Spotify!
Support journalism that protects democracy.
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In this episode of the Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi calls out world leaders for pushing a Gaza “peace plan” without Palestinians at the table. How can there be peace when the people at the heart of the conflict are excluded? 

This episode is brought to you by global investment manager Ninety One: https://ninetyone.com/en/south-africa

Produced by Emilie Gambade, Joel Seboa & Bernard Kotze
Original Theme Music & Design by Bernard Kotze

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify!
Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick

00:35 Breaking News: Death of South African Ambassador 
01:08 Speculations and Historical Context 
03:26 Transition to Main Topic: US Plan for Gaza 
03:34 Overview of the US Plan for Gaza 
04:07 Key Issues with the Plan 
05:14 Core Elements of the Plan 
07:07 Demilitarisation and Governance Concerns 
09:27 Security and Reconstruction Challenges 
12:00 Accountability and International Involvement 
14:07 Regional Reactions and Controversies 
17:59 Symbolic Actions and Their Implications 
22:30 Conclusion: The Importance of Palestinian Consent 

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Ahead of World News Day 2025, Daily Maverick co-founder and Project Kontinuum’s Leader Branko Brkic speaks to Rebecca Davis about the crisis facing global media, from Africa’s “media deserts” to growing distrust in journalism. In this candid conversation, he asks: if not the media, then what? And despite the challenges, he insists there is hope, grounded in the decency of ordinary people and the resilience of journalists worldwide.

Hosted by: Rebecca Davis 
Guest: Branko Brkic
Produced by Emilie Gambade, Joel Seboa & Bernard Kotze
Original Theme Music & Design by Bernard Kotze

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01:30 Project Kontinuum: An Overview 
02:37 The Existential Threat to Civilization 
03:11 The Role of Media in Crisis 
03:46 Project Continuum's Mission 
05:31 The Decline of Democracy and Media 
06:17 The Urgency of Media Survival 
07:10 World News Day: Importance and Impact 
07:39 The Disappearance of News Media 
11:27 Rebuilding Trust in Media 
11:58 The Role of Social Media 
15:47 Government and Consumer Roles in Supporting Media 
21:44 Hope for the Future: Fighting for Truth

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Just a few days before World News Day - on 28 September - Redi Tlhabi is joined by Karen Attiah to confront the shrinking space for free expression. With Attiah’s own high-profile firing from the Washington Post as a backdrop, their conversation explores how powerful forces exploit polarisation, smear campaigns, and censorship to dilute truth and weaken journalism worldwide.

This episode is brought to you by global investment manager Ninety One: https://ninetyone.com/en/south-africa

Produced by Emilie Gambade, Joel Seboa & Bernard Kotze

Original Theme Music & Design by Bernard Kotze

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify!

Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick

00:42 Press Freedom and Suppression
02:25 The Information Ecosystem
03:21 Media Ownership and Control
04:04 Introducing Karen Attiah
05:13 Karen's Firing and Public Reaction
06:41 Obama's Support and Karen's Last Article
09:25 The Charlie Kirk Incident
19:35 The Broader Implications of Media Control
22:50 Social Media's Influence on Journalism
28:05 Corporate Media Acquisitions
30:35 The Future of Independent Journalism

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On this episode of The Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi speaks to Daily Maverick’s Rebecca Davis about the commission of inquiry into the recent claims made by top cop Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, which has been underway since 17 September. From political power to law enforcement accountability, they reflect on the nation’s repeated failures to confront corruption and the long road to meaningful justice. 

This episode is brought to you by global investment manager Ninety One: https://ninetyone.com/en/south-africa 

Produced by Emilie Gambade, Joel Seboa & Bernard Kotze 
Original Theme Music & Design by Bernard Kotze 

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify! 

Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including YouTube, Apple Podcast and Spotify!
Support journalism that protects democracy.
Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick

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“We cartel. We don’t forgive you.” A voice note like that may be linked to the fate of Peter Jaggers and William Petersen, reported as kidnapped in Gauteng and later found murdered. Daily Maverick journalist Caryn Dolley traces the deadly reach of South Africa’s gangs and international drug networks, from coastal cocaine drops to city streets, and reveals a criminal underworld that spares no one. 

Reporting by: Caryn Dolley 
Edited by: Rufaro Chiswo 
Filmed by: Bernard Kotze & Joel Seboa 
Produced by: Emilie Gambade 
Sub-edited by: Kevin Flynn 

Caryn Dolley has covered organised crime in South Africa for nearly two decades, exposing how the country fits into the global criminal landscape, how gangsters appear to have infiltrated aspects of private security, and how politics, rogue intelligence, and state corruption are infused in these noxious arenas. Despite threats to her safety, she remains committed to uncovering the truth and bringing it to the public. 

If you like this video, subscribe to our YouTube channel for more. Would you like to become a Maverick Insider and support our journalism? Click here for all the details: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/insider/

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including YouTube, Apple Podcast and Spotify!
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As war and political fractures reshape global alliances, Redi Tlhabi reports on shifting diplomatic winds: sharper criticism of Israel, unease over U.S. rhetoric, and hard questions about double standards in Ukraine and Gaza. She explains why these changes matter — and where South Africa fits in.

This episode is brought to you by global investment manager Ninety One: 
https://ninetyone.com/en/south-africa

Produced by Emilie Gambade, Joel Seboa & Bernard Kotze 
Original Theme Music & Design by Bernard Kotze 
You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify!

Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. 
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00:28 Welcome to the Readiness Report 
00:36 Insights from the Bled Strategic Forum 
01:21 Shifting Narratives in EU Diplomacy 
01:58 Slovenia's Role in Multilateralism 
03:12 Protests in Washington DC 
04:15 US-South Africa Relations and the G20 
06:44 Behind the Scenes Diplomacy 
08:46 Geopolitical Realignments: BRICS and Beyond 
12:04 China's Strategic Moves 
15:39 US Tariffs and Global Reactions 
19:13 The Impact of US Foreign Policy 
20:36 A Call for US Recalibration

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In this episode of The Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi unpacks two parallel crises of leadership and legitimacy. In South Africa, ANC leaders now admit the party has “lost its way” — but only after years of silence during corruption and state capture. In Washington, Donald Trump declares a “crime emergency” and floods the streets with troops, despite data showing crime is down. Redi connects the dots between hypocrisy, militarisation, and the erosion of democracy at home and abroad. 

This episode is brought to you by global investment manager Ninety One: https://ninetyone.com/en/south-africa 

Produced by Emilie Gambade, Bernard Kotze & Joel Seboa 

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify! 

Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/insider/ 

00:43 Returning from Vacation 
00:47 The Daily Maverick Gathering 
01:32 State of South Africa 
02:14 ANC Leadership Critique 
02:48 Personal Frustrations with ANC 
02:58 Historical Context and ANC's Response 
03:56 Hypocrisy in ANC Leadership 
09:03 Washington DC Under Trump 
11:01 Crime Data and Public Perception 
11:34 Militarization and Public Reaction 
19:28 DC's Unique Status and Statehood Debate 
20:18 Concluding Thoughts on DC

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