As the DA and ANC — the two leading parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) — edge closer to a deal on a contentious budget including a proposed 0.5% VAT increase, South African academic and columnist Steven Friedman joins John Maytham to assess the GNU’s current state and what may shape its future success. 

<p>As the DA and ANC &mdash; the two leading parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) &mdash; edge closer to a deal on a contentious budget including a proposed 0.5% VAT increase, South African academic and columnist Steven Friedman joins John Maytham to assess the GNU&rsquo;s current state and what may shape its future success.&nbsp;</p>

John Maytham is a trained actor who made the switch to radio over 20 years ago when he joined the news team at Radio 604.

He then swapped reporting for anchoring an AM drive time show at a national talk radio station.

Once he set the bar for South African news and talk radio he accepted the challenge to join Primedia Broadcasting and help establish the newly founded CapeTalk, fulfilling the role of both News Editor and Breakfast Host.

He was the first host to switch on the mic on 14 October 1997.

Years later, he was also the first radio broadcaster to do a Google Hangout in South Africa.