SMWX

President Cyril Ramaphosa has fired Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe, just before his scheduled appearance before the National Assembly to answer wuestions from MPs. The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry continues hearing evidence regarding drug busts across SA, and the famous case of the missing drugs from Port Shepstone. We unpack all of this and what the mean for South Africa. 

The Constitutional Court’s Phala Phala judgment may have closed one chapter — but it may have opened another.

In this episode, Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh is joined by Mighti Jamie to unpack the implications of the judgment, the growing political pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the difficult road that impeachment would present for Parliament and the country.

Would resignation spare South Africa a prolonged institutional crisis? Or would it create an even deeper political vacuum?

Let’s dive in. 

In a landmark Constitutional Court judgment today, the Phala Phala saga has been reopened and been referred for Parliament to institute impeachment proceedings. We speak to political parties, analysts and unpack what this moment means for South Africa and its future. 

Political analyst, Lukhona Mnguni, joins us on SMWX for a preview of the ConCourt's Phala Phala judgment which will be delivered on Friday 8 May 2026. This judgement is about whether the ANC in Parliament, unconstitutionally used its majority to shield the President from accountability. In this episode, we scenario plan what could unfold in the ConCourt and what the political consequences are for South Africa.

MP Fadiel Adams has been arrested by the SAPS PKTT for charges of defeating the ends of justice and fraud. The Constitutional Court has also announced that they will deliver the Phala Phala judgment on Friday 8 May 2026 at 10am. We unpack this and the latest coming out of the Madlanga Commission.

Witness G, a Crime Intelligence official who manages informers and is alleged to have been Brown Mogotsi's handler appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. Justice Madlanga had to move the proceedings fully in-camera after it became impossible to have the evidence presented in public without compromising the witness' identity.

We are exactly a week away from the expected deadline for the much anticipated Phala Phala ConCourt judgment to be delivered. The Constitutional Court, in response to EFF Leader Julius Malema's letter, ascertained that the judgment was at an advanced stage and should be expected within a month from the response (8 April 2026). In this episode, we give you context about how we got here and the different scenarios that we could see play out once the judgment is given.

Tshukudu Malatji, a City of Tshwane official in charge of asset protection appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry today and was questioned about the unlawful R14M expenditure on a security tender, the movement of bid documents related to tenders, the payment and authorisation of invoices for services that were not yet delivered to the City. We unpack all of this and how it links to the testimonies of other key witnesses in the Tshwane story like Gareth Mnisi, Lebogang Phiri, Umashi Dlamini and others.

In this episode of SMWX, we unpack this week's scandals involving an over R1Bn tender for textbooks, Chinese SUVs that were given to Ministers and AI generated sources in a draft policy. What does the mean for the Government of National Unity and its stability?

Umashi Dlamini continued his testimony at the Madlanga Commission and he was questioned today on the tender awarding saga in the City of Tshwane. We unpack this, and Brown Mogotsi's shock application for Evidence Leader Adv Chaskalson SC's recusal for his testimony that is scheduled. We finally also unpack Kagiso Lerutle and Julius Mkhwanazi's successful bail application