If you want to understand why municipalities are broken, don’t look at the mayor. Look at the ward councillor instead. He is the only politician whose door you can actually knock on when something goes wrong. Paradoxically, he is also the politician with no budget, no maintenance trucks, and no real power to fix your street lights or repair your potholes. Colleen Makhubele spoke to Shane Dladla Political Analyst, Adv Lufuno Nevondwe Constitutional Law Expert and Dr Sam Koma Governace Expert Governance Expert.

If you want to understand why municipalities are broken, don&rsquo;t look at the mayor. Look at the ward councillor instead. He is the only politician whose door you can actually knock on when something goes wrong. Paradoxically, he is also the politician with no budget, no maintenance trucks, and no real power to fix your street lights or repair your potholes. Colleen Makhubele spoke to Shane Dladla Political Analyst, Adv Lufuno Nevondwe Constitutional Law Expert and Dr Sam Koma Governace Expert Governance Expert.

POWER Perspective is a talkback that typically features no-holds-barred discussions ranging from politics and socioeconomic matters to religion and lifestyle topics. POWER Perspective brings you hard-hitting interviews and debates featuring all the big names in politics. This show has a dedicated fanbase of “Perspectivians” and is a must-listen to, to understand what is happening politically in today's South Africa.

POWER Perspective is a talkback that typically features no-holds-barred discussions ranging from politics and socioeconomic matters to religion and lifestyle topics. POWER Perspective brings you hard-hitting interviews and debates featuring all the big names in politics. This show has a dedicated fanbase of &ldquo;Perspectivians&rdquo; and is a must-listen to, to understand what is happening politically in today's South Africa.

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Why ward councillors are set up to fail

A Sunday Times investigation has revealed that South African government departments and state-owned entities channelled nearly R70 billion to service providers through contract expansions and extensions between October 2023 and March 2026. These variations frequently bypassed fresh competitive tender processes. Eskom accounted for the vast majority of this expenditure, responsible for approximately R41 billion—nearly 60% of the total amount—across roughly 3,000 identified contract changes. Colleen Makhubele spoke to Zama Titi, Procurement Expert, Wayne Duvenhage, CEO Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse – OUT and Barren Bergman DA MP and Spokesperson on Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation.

A Sunday Times investigation has revealed that South African government departments and state-owned entities channelled nearly R70 billion to service providers through contract expansions and extensions between October 2023 and March 2026. These variations frequently bypassed fresh competitive tender processes. Eskom accounted for the vast majority of this expenditure, responsible for approximately R41 billion&mdash;nearly 60% of the total amount&mdash;across roughly 3,000 identified contract changes. Colleen Makhubele spoke to Zama Titi, Procurement Expert, Wayne Duvenhage, CEO Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse &ndash; OUT and Barren Bergman DA MP and Spokesperson on Planning, Monitoring &amp; Evaluation.

Nearly R70bn spent through government contract expansions, investigation finds

When South Africa embarked on its post-apartheid democratic journey, it struck a foundational compromise etched into the national memory: full, public truth in exchange for amnesty. Yet for hundreds of families who surrendered their right to immediate criminal justice, that promise transformed into a multi-decade silence. The TRC Cases Inquiry—the Khampepe Commission—confronts this enduring shadow, probing why approximately 300 priority dockets referred for prosecution lay dormant for over twenty years while state institutions defaulted on their constitutional duties. Colleen Makhubele spoke to Dr. Marjorie Jobson, National Director at Khulumani Support Group, Adv. Mayenzeke Chiya and Tiego Khoza, Political Analyst.

 

When South Africa embarked on its post-apartheid democratic journey, it struck a foundational compromise etched into the national memory: full, public truth in exchange for amnesty. Yet for hundreds of families who surrendered their right to immediate criminal justice, that promise transformed into a multi-decade silence. The TRC Cases Inquiry&mdash;the Khampepe Commission&mdash;confronts this enduring shadow, probing why approximately 300 priority dockets referred for prosecution lay dormant for over twenty years while state institutions defaulted on their constitutional duties. Colleen Makhubele spoke to Dr. Marjorie Jobson, National Director at Khulumani Support Group, Adv. Mayenzeke Chiya and Tiego Khoza, Political Analyst. 
&nbsp;

The TRC cases inquiry and the ongoing questions around accountability and justice for victims of apartheid-era crimes.

The Educators’ Union of South Africa has rejected a ruling by the South African Council of Educators (SACE) that seeks to police the behaviour of teachers outside of school hours. In contrast, the National Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) supports SACE’s code of professional ethics, which expects educators to adhere to standards of good conduct both on and off duty. Colleen Makhubele spoke to Sandile Ntshalintshali Assistant Manager for Legal and Ethics South African Council for Educators (SACE) and Andrew Goldberg, Labour Lawyer.

The Educators&rsquo; Union of South Africa has rejected a ruling by the South African Council of Educators (SACE) that seeks to police the behaviour of teachers outside of school hours. In contrast, the National Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) supports SACE&rsquo;s code of professional ethics, which expects educators to adhere to standards of good conduct both on and off duty. Colleen Makhubele spoke to Sandile Ntshalintshali Assistant Manager for Legal and Ethics South African Council for Educators (SACE) and Andrew Goldberg, Labour Lawyer.

Why ward councillors are set up to fail

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