Thando Maeko - Political Correspondent

At its National General Council, the ANC confronted its electoral decline, openly acknowledging governance failures, poor accountability and weakened public trust. Leaders emphasised the need for renewal, organisational discipline and a return to effective service delivery. The council also reaffir…

Burkina Faso–Nigeria Diplomatic Tensions

Burkina Faso has detained 11 Nigerian military officers following an unauthorised emergency landing by a Nigerian Air Force aircraft on its territory. Nigerian authorities maintain the landing was caused by a technical fault and insist there was no hostile intent. The incident has triggered diploma…

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP - COSATU Turns 40

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: COSATU Turns 40 traces the union federation’s turbulent journey through the eyes of Dr Sydney Mufamadi, anti-apartheid activist and founding force behind Cosatu. As he reflects on four decades of worker power, political struggle, and shifting alliances, Mufamadi confronts hard q…

CANNABIS CORNER

In this Cannabis Corner feature, President Ramaphosa’s proclamation bringing the 2018 Plant Improvement Act into force on 1 December 2025 sparks a sweeping shift in South Africa’s agricultural landscape. Dr Thandeka Kunene of the IKS Centre guides farmers and policymakers through the emerging hemp …

Highgate & Caiphus Nyoka

In Caiphus Nyoka: Justice, Memory, and the Long Road to Accountability, the past collides with the present when attorney Jos Venter of Webber Wentzel reopens a buried case tied to state abuses and forgotten victims. As Venter unravels Nyoka’s decades-old struggle for truth, he confronts political o…

Madlanga Commission wraps up 2025

As the Madlanga Commission closes its dramatic 2025 hearings, a wave of disclosures exposes entrenched corruption and covert political interference. Ben Theron of The Whistleblower House emerges as a steady force, helping insiders come forward despite mounting intimidation. With the nation on edge,…

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: Modibe Modiba

Investigative journalist Modibe Modiba’s allegations about corruption in Ekurhuleni have resurfaced as the Madlanga Commission hears testimony that echoes several of his earlier claims. Modiba has publicly alleged systemic wrongdoing in the metro, including irregular multi-billion-rand tenders, cri…

PANEL DISCUSSION: SA's global voice vs Local Reality

South Africa’s Global Voice vs. Local Reality probes how the country projects power on the world stage while grappling with deep domestic stresses. Former ANC leader and Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa and Mistra research director Dr Sandy Africa dissect the tensions between diplomacy, governance,…

CREATIVE CORNER: Power, Privilege, and the Public Experience of Corruption in South Africa

In this telephonic conversation, Dr Steven Gordon of the HSRC’s DCES division explores how ordinary South Africans feel and interpret corruption in everyday life. Moving beyond headlines, he reflects on how power and privilege shape who is harmed, who is heard, and who is protected. Through public-…

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP - Floyd Shivambu President of Afrika Mayibuye Movement

Floyd Shivambu, born in rural Limpopo in 1983, rose from humble beginnings to become a prominent voice in South African politics. A Wits graduate with a Master’s in Political Studies, he began his activism as SRC President before serving as ANCYL spokesperson. He co-founded the EFF in 2013 and beca…