Helen Zille is back on the campaign trail — this time aiming to become mayor of Johannesburg.

The former Western Cape premier and long-time Democratic Alliance (DA) leader says South Africa’s economic hub can be turned around after years of instability, corruption and failing infrastructure.

In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, Zille speaks to Sunday Times deputy edior Mike Siluma about her plans for Johannesburg, why she believes coalition governments have failed the city, and whether the DA can defeat the ANC in the upcoming local elections.

She also discusses tackling organised crime, enforcing immigration laws, the role of metro police and the political lessons voters should draw from years of coalition instability. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Johannesburg is South Africa’s economic engine but it is also battling infrastructure decay, water shortages, collapsing inner-city buildings and fragile coalition politics.

ActionSA leader and newly announced mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, joins Sunday Times Politics Weekly to outline his plan to fix the city.

Mashaba reflects on his previous tenure as mayor (2016–2019), what he believes went wrong after his departure, and what he would do differently if elected again.

Host Mike Siluma speaks to Mashaba about whether Johannesburg can realistically be turned around and how. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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The Democratic Alliance faces a pivotal moment following John Steenhuisen’s decision not to seek re-election. In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, host Mike Siluma speaks with political analyst Khanyi Magubane and veteran journalist Peter Bruce about the internal tensions that shaped Steenhuisen’s departure, the party’s challenges in balancing government roles and opposition and what the DA’s future might look like as South Africa heads into election season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Cyril Ramaphosa remains one of the most skilful politicians in the ANC, analysts say, despite party turmoil. His ability to manage the Government of National Unity (GNU) and counter critics has kept him firmly in power, at least for now.

Leadership decisions are heavily influenced by party power brokers and the intellectual capital that once guided its strategy has largely dissipated.

Susan Booysen says: “He survived quite a few assaults and he’s countering the GNU critics quite consistently. Playing the renewal cards very clearly as if the fact that the ANC has dipped below 50% has not happened under his rule — that was one that we’ve totally overlooked — and how he’s really made the coalition and GNU as if this is a great achievement.”

Bongani Ngqulunga adds that Ramaphosa has often been underestimated. “He’s a lot more skilful politician than sometimes we give him credit for. It is not in the interest of the contenders — those who want to succeed him — to see him leave right now. I don’t think we have someone powerful enough in the ANC to cobble together a coalition that could make that person [president].” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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As South Africa hosts the G20 Leaders’ Summit this weekend, business leader and G20 Sherpa Prof Bonang Mohale says the world’s focus should extend far beyond the drama surrounding US President Donald Trump’s expected absence.

Mohale, who served as South Africa’s G20 negotiator (“Sherpa”), argues that the summit represents a pivotal opportunity for South Africa to reassert itself economically and diplomatically.

Mohale says Trump’s hostility towards South Africa must be understood within a bigger global context, rather than as a personal or bilateral dispute.

“Trump 1.0 demonstrated beyond any shadow of doubt that the president of the United States is against anything that is woke, progressive. He’s a racist, he’s against women, against Muslims, against people who prefer the same gender,” Mohale said.

“If the facts don’t favour him, he manufactures his own. He’s a bully. He believes in the currency of tariffs: ‘I get my way or else’.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Afrika Mayibuye Movement leader Floyd Shivambu sits down with Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma to reflect on his political journey from the ANCYL to the EFF, why he broke with Julius Malema, and the fallout from his stint in the MK Party. He responds to lingering questions about the VBS scandal, his meeting with Bushiri, and his expulsion from MK, while unpacking what “total freedom and emancipation” means under Mayibuye. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane sits down with Mike Siluma to discuss how the Catholic Church shaped her political awakening, why she believes the DA is destabilising the GNU and why Jacob Zuma’s breakaway to form MK was “an act of betrayal.” She also opens up about her personal journey and whether she’s ready to run for ANC president.

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The launch of the national dialogue has reignited debate about whether the process can genuinely help fix the country’s problems or it is just another stage to advance elite interests.Political analyst and Public Affairs Research Institute executive director Dr Sithembile Mbete says dialogue has been a recurring theme in South Africa’s democratic journey.“It comes from this idea that we are so fractured as a nation across political, racial and class lines and that we somehow need to talk to each other to find a solution,” she explains.She likens the initiative to “post-conflict negotiations” but warns that dialogue without a clear end goal risks becoming hollow. “We should always ask: what is the outcome supposed to be?”Arena Holdings editor-at-large S’thembiso Msomi agrees, saying South Africans have long felt that “what we have is not enough”.“Clearly there’s general unhappiness about where South Africa is going,” he says.

Produced by: Bulelani Nonyukela. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Long standing NEC member Dr Malusi Gigaga has hit out at the party arguing that it is yet to start fulfilling its ambition to renew itself Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Correctional services minister Pieter Groenewald wants inmates to grow food, make clothing, bake bread and work in factories to save taxpayers hundreds of millions of rand and promote rehabilitation.

“All [prison] uniforms are produced by inmates. All the furniture in my offices — Cape Town and Pretoria — has been manufactured by inmates, so it's much cheaper,” Groenewald said.

Though the furniture predates his appointment in 2024, Groenewald believes it reflects the sort of cost-cutting, skills-development approach he wants to entrench and expand throughout the prisons system.

Produced by: Bulelani Nonyukela. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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