In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack a turbulent political week in South Africa. They examine the ANC’s upcoming National General Council and question whether it has any real value in shaping policy or strengthening leadership, especially as internal succession battles intensify. The discussion moves to the South African Communist Party’s threat to break away from the ANC, exploring the history of the alliance, the reality of the SACP’s influence, and why a split could leave both organisations weaker. The episode also looks at the assassination of witness Marius van der Merwe, who was killed shortly after testifying in the Majanga Inquiry. Justice and Mondli discuss South Africa’s long‑standing crisis of political and criminal assassinations, the state’s failure to protect whistleblowers, and the entrenched networks of organized crime. The episode concludes with a reflection on South Africa’s stalled National Development Plan, the failures of cadre deployment, and the broader collapse of a capable state, raising the question of what genuine state reform would require

We unpack a dramatic week in South African politics, focusing on three major stories: the ANC’s upcoming NGC and growing fears of factional battles against President Ramaphosa; the scandal involving the Zuma family, Russia, and 17 young South Africans sent abroad for alleged military training; and Donald Trump’s escalating attacks on South Africa after the G20, including threats to block SA from future summits. A concise breakdown of power struggles, propaganda, and South Africa’s political future.

In the debut episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makanya dive straight into the deep end. From the ANC’s high-stakes National General Council and whispers of coup plotting, to explosive allegations around the Zuma family’s links to Russia and the recruitment of young South Africans for “military training,” no stone is left unturned. The two also unpack Donald Trump’s escalating hostility towards South Africa and what it means for global alliances. A sharp, fearless first episode that sets the tone for everything to come.