South Africa’s political landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, with the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) warning that by 2029, the African National Congress (ANC) could retain outright control in only two provinces — Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.

From Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal, and the Free State to Mpumalanga, coalition governments are becoming the norm rather than the exception, with national politics already testing the limits of this fragile new order.

At the heart of MISTRA’s analysis is Professor Susan Booysen, one of South Africa’s most respected political analysts. Speaking to Tsepiso Makwetla, Booysen unpacked the numbers, assessed the strategies, and examined the stability — or instability — of coalitions.

She also weighed in on whether the government’s much-promoted ‘national dialogue’ will serve as a bridge to unity, or simply as a bridge to nowhere.

South Africa&rsquo;s political landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, with the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) warning that by 2029, the African National Congress (ANC) could retain outright control in only two provinces &mdash; Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.
From Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal, and the Free State to Mpumalanga, coalition governments are becoming the norm rather than the exception, with national politics already testing the limits of this fragile new order.
At the heart of MISTRA&rsquo;s analysis is Professor Susan Booysen, one of South Africa&rsquo;s most respected political analysts. Speaking to Tsepiso Makwetla, Booysen unpacked the numbers, assessed the strategies, and examined the stability &mdash; or instability &mdash; of coalitions.
She also weighed in on whether the government&rsquo;s much-promoted &lsquo;national dialogue&rsquo; will serve as a bridge to unity, or simply as a bridge to nowhere.

An English news and current affairs wrap with a fresh take on the day’s top stories, hosted by the seasoned journalist Tsepiso Makwetla.

An English news and current affairs wrap with a fresh take on the day&rsquo;s top stories, hosted by the seasoned journalist Tsepiso Makwetla.

Africa Hour

Africa World Hour 

MISTRA warns ANC may hold outright control in only two provinces by 2029

International scientific collaboration, World Weather Attribution has released a report that found that a La Niña climate pattern, climate change, high exposure and vulnerability combined, led to devastating floods in parts of Southern Africa. The report highlights the disproportionately severe impact of the recent deadly floods, on low-income and marginalised communities. The report is the product of a collaboration among researchers from Mozambique, South Africa, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, the United States, and the United Kingdom, who collaborated to assess the extent to which human-induced climate change altered the likelihood and intensity of the heavy rainfall event. The findings further point to poor housing quality and inadequate infrastructure as significantly increasing exposure and vulnerability to flooding. For a look at what the findings mean, Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Professor Francois Engelbrecht, Director of the Global Change Institute (GCI) at Wits University, in South Africa

International scientific collaboration, World Weather Attribution has released a report that found that a La Ni&ntilde;a climate pattern, climate change, high exposure and vulnerability combined, led to devastating floods in parts of Southern Africa. The report highlights the disproportionately severe impact of the recent deadly floods, on low-income and marginalised communities. The report is the product of a collaboration among researchers from Mozambique, South Africa, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, the United States, and the United Kingdom, who collaborated to assess the extent to which human-induced climate change altered the likelihood and intensity of the heavy rainfall event. The findings further point to poor housing quality and inadequate infrastructure as significantly increasing exposure and vulnerability to flooding. For a look at what the findings mean, Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Professor Francois Engelbrecht, Director of the Global Change Institute (GCI) at Wits University, in South Africa

Climate Change Made Southern Africa’s "1-in-50-Year" Floods 40% More Intense

Food insecurity in South Africa is worsening, even among households already receiving food aid. This is according to FoodForward South Africa's s State of Household Food Insecurity in South Africa Report 2026. The report was produced in partnership with the University of Cape Town's Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU). It highlights a worsening national crisis where 70% of surveyed households face moderate-to-severe food insecurity. To hear more about this report, Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Fund Development Manager at FoodForward SA Bobbie Jacobs…

Food insecurity in South Africa is worsening, even among households already receiving food aid. This is according to FoodForward South Africa's s State of Household Food Insecurity in South Africa Report 2026. The report was produced in partnership with the University of Cape Town's Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU). It highlights a worsening national crisis where 70% of surveyed households face moderate-to-severe food insecurity. To hear more about this report, Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Fund Development Manager at FoodForward SA Bobbie Jacobs&hellip;

Food insecurity in South Africa worsens as number of families receiving food aid skyrockets

South Africa's  President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially accepted the interim report by the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, triggering immediate criminal referrals for 14 high-ranking officials implicated in the findings. Ramaphosa's actions have also triggered the formation of a Special Police Task Team to root out what appears to be a deeply entrenched criminal syndicate in the country's criminal justice system. As public hearings continued today at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in the capital of Pretoria, South Africa finds itself at a critical crossroads for the rule of law, as allegations of political interference and murder, seem to mirror other African democracies with less-than-stellar criminal and judicial track records. For a look at what the past few months have revealed about South Africa's justice system, Tsepiso Makwetha spoke to Offender Profiler, Forensic Criminologist, Laurie Pieters-James

South Africa's &nbsp;President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially accepted the interim report by the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, triggering immediate criminal referrals for 14 high-ranking officials implicated in the findings. Ramaphosa's actions have also triggered the formation of a Special Police Task Team to root out what appears to be a deeply entrenched criminal syndicate in the country's criminal justice system. As public hearings continued today at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in the capital of Pretoria, South Africa finds itself at a critical crossroads for the rule of law, as allegations of political interference and murder, seem to mirror other African democracies with less-than-stellar criminal and judicial track records. For a look at what the past few months have revealed about South Africa's justice system, Tsepiso Makwetha spoke to Offender Profiler, Forensic Criminologist, Laurie Pieters-James

If my body is found somewhere, I did not commit suicide: SA forensic criminologist says "systemic and endemic" police corruption places whistleblower lives at risk 

MISTRA warns ANC may hold outright control in only two provinces by 2029

In 1 playlist(s)

Africa World Hour

Social links

Recent clips