Election season is heating up — and IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa could be one of the key figures shaping what comes next. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the latest polling, the IFP’s growing support in KwaZulu-Natal, the challenge from MK, and the coalition negotiations that could determine control of municipalities across the country. Hlabisa also explains why he believes the next local government elections could be a major turning point. We also go inside the GNU, as Hlabisa reflects on his experience serving in Cabinet, the realities of governing alongside political rivals, and what he thinks coalition government has taught South Africa so far. We unpack the crisis in local government, proposed reforms to municipalities and coalition rules, the future of the IFP after Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and the party’s ambitions beyond KZN.

Charles Molapisi joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, endurance, business, and the future of South Africa. As MTN Group's Chief Technology and Information Officer, Molapisi explains how elite cycling shaped his approach to leadership, capital allocation, resilience, and decision-making. He shares remarkable lessons from completing one of the toughest amateur cycling events in the world before applying those insights to running large organisations and building high-performance teams. The discussion then turns to South Africa's future. Molapisi argues that while the country possesses extraordinary natural advantages and untapped potential, education remains the single biggest obstacle to long-term prosperity. He reflects on governance, opportunity, leadership, and why he believes South Africa can become one of the greatest countries in the world if it gets the fundamentals right.

In this episode, we start shifting attention to the upcoming 2026 Local Government Election. We unpack what the recent polls suggest about the situation in Joburg and other metros. Will the ANC hold on, or are the polls accurate to sugggest that they are in for a horrid election?

IDAC Head of Investigations and Operations Mr Matthew Sesoko appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry today. He was grilled on his potential complicity to wrongdoing that previous IDAC witnesses have implicated former boss Adv Andrea Johnson. In addition, Sesoko's kidnapping ordeal was also covered. In this episode, we unpack today's testimony.

Suspended Deputy Chief of Police at EMPD, Julius Mkhwanazi has been arrested for the fourth time! This time, in connection with the murder and cover-up of businessman Emmanuel Mbense in 2022. Mkhwanazi is arrested alongside 4 other suspects. We unpack this breaking news story and continue to unpack what happened at the Madlanga Commission today with Ms Ramsamy continuing her testimony in the IDAC stream. Lastly, Parliament's impeachment committee has resolved on one name to recommend as Evidence Leader for the impeachment inquiry. We unpack it all on SMWX!

Vafa Naraghi joins Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh for a wide-ranging conversation on identity, comedy, race, politics and what it truly means to be South African. From his hit show Becoming South African to his journey from engineering into comedy, Vafa explains why great comedy is far more than entertainment—it is a powerful tool for challenging assumptions, creating empathy and bringing people together. The conversation explores South Africa's complex identity, xenophobia, the Madlanga Commission, education, history, social cohesion and the role of artists in shaping public discourse. Vafa also reflects on optimism, the country's future, and why he believes humour can help unlock difficult conversations that politics often cannot.

Former Goldman Sachs executive and leading economist Colin Coleman returns to SMWX for a wide-ranging discussion on South Africa's political and economic future. He unpacks the country's weak economic outlook, the fallout from the Constitutional Court's Phala Phala judgment, the growing impact of the Madlanga Commission, and why he believes the ANC could lose most of the country's metros in the upcoming local government elections.

IDAC Investigator Mr Mantsha Raphesu, testified at the Madlanga Commission today and it was not a good day for Andrea Johnson again. In his testimony today, Raphesu corroborated a lot of what Adv Ramsamy gave as evidence in her testimony. In this episode, we unpack Raphesu's testimony and what it means for the IDAC stream of evidence at the Madlanga Commission.

Drushantha Ramsamy, state attorney at IDAC, gave testimony at the Madlanga Commission. In this testimony, she provided explosive audio recordings of a telephone conversation with former IDAC boss Adv Andrea Johnson. In this recording, Johnson is heard speaking about the Madlanga Commission and making some strong statements about their unprofessionalism etc. In this episode, we unpack Ramsamy's testimony and her allegations that Johnson presided over a reign of terror at IDAC and was a "flip flopper".

ATM and EFF have approached the Constitutional Court for direct access to appeal the Western Cape High Court's ruling in President Ramaphosa's interdict application. The Western Cape High Court granted President Ramaphosa an interim interdict, pending the finalisation of the s89 panel report review set down for 2nd - 4th September 2026. In this episode, we unpack the appeal that has been lodged at the ConCourt and what the road ahead for the Phala Phala saga might look like.