Clarity & Unfiltered Insight

The Madlanga Commission and Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee have pulled back the curtain on one of the darkest chapters in South Africa’s recent history — exposing the nexus between politicians, police leaders and organised crime syndicates.

In this detailed recap, we unpack what the hearings have truly revealed and what the fallout will look like in the months ahead. This is not just about corruption — it’s about stolen hospital money, political assassinations, captured policing structures and the deliberate protection of crime bosses operating with political cover

We explain:

-Why the Political Killings Task Team was mysteriously disbanded
-How crime syndicates infiltrated SAPS and provincial governance
-The role of senior ANC figures in protecting criminal networks
-Why commissions often fail to deliver real justice
-The truth about Kat Matlala, Katiso Molefe and Morgan Maumela
-How police restructuring has been weaponised to shield corruption
-What this means for arrests, accountability and the 2026 political landscape
-Why South African voters are already responding at the ballot box

This is not political commentary.
This is a warning about a state that has been hollowed out from within.

Ordinary citizens paid the price.
Whistleblowers died.
Hospitals were looted.
And the same political machinery still pretends nothing happened.

⚠️ This affects every South African

From crime policy to healthcare, law enforcement to elections — the implications of these hearings go far beyond Parliament.

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⏱ YouTube Chapters

00:00 – Why This Recap Matters
01:35 – What the Madlanga Commission Is About
04:10 – Political Killings Task Team Origins
07:55 – Why the Unit Was Suddenly Disbanded
11:20 – Parallel Parliamentary Committee Explained
14:50 – Police Capture & Structural Collapse
18:40 – ANC’s Historical Role in Weak Law Enforcement
22:30 – Two Camps Inside SAPS
26:15 – Police Leadership Failures
30:10 – Political Interference in Crime Intelligence
34:05 – Politicians Linked to Crime Syndicates
38:20 – The Big 3 Crime Bosses Explained
42:10 – Kat Matlala & The Hospital Corruption Trail
46:55 – Babita Deokaran & Whistleblower Assassinations
50:30 – Criminal Networks Inside Government
54:15 – Why Arrests Are Unlikely
58:20 – Suspensions Without Consequences
1:02:40 – SIU, Hawks & Limited Action
1:06:55 – Why Voters Are Starting to Punish the ANC
1:10:30 – Elections, Fallout & Political Consequences
1:14:20 – Real Human Cost of Corruption
1:18:15 – Final Analysis & Warning
1:20:50 – Pace Car Rental Sponsor Message

@frank1dialogue

Is Anglo American abandoning South Africa — or is this the clearest signal yet that big business has lost faith in the country’s leadership?

In this explosive State of the Nation conversation, Professor JJ Tabane sits down with former Statistician-General Dr Pali Lehohla to unpack the dangerous intersection of G20 politics, capital flight, BEE policy failure, leadership decay, and the looming Madlanga Commission crisis.

This episode goes beyond surface-level headlines and directly confronts the uncomfortable questions:

-Is Anglo American relocating to Canada to escape accountability?
-Has Black Economic Empowerment failed to build real indigenous capital?
-Is South Africa facing a leadership vacuum with no credible future plan?
-Are we witnessing the warning signs of systemic economic collapse?

From the legacy of Anglo’s influence on the JSE to the failures of government planning, the contradictions of transformation, and the risks of unpatriotic capital — this is a brutally honest diagnosis of South Africa’s economic crossroads.

If you care about:
South Africa’s economy
BEE policy & transformation
Capital flight
G20 implications
Corporate power vs state power
Leadership accountability

This episode is essential viewing.

👇 Join the debate in the comments:
Is Anglo sending a warning — or sounding the final alarm?

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This episode is supported by Pace Car Rental. Use code SONA for discounted car hire and support independent journalism.

📌 Subscribe to State of the Nation for fearless political and economic analysis.
💬 Share this with anyone who still believes “everything is fine.”

Chapter Breakdown:
00:00 – Why This Interview Matters Now
01:11 – G20 in South Africa: Symbolism or Salvation?
02:02 – Is Anglo American REALLY Leaving?
04:20 – The Optics of Capital Flight
06:45 – Anglo’s Deep Roots in SA History
08:07 – Reparations, Accountability & Corporate Responsibility
10:30 – Leadership Vacuum & Dangerous Policy Drift
13:01 – Why Business No Longer Trusts Government
15:12 – The Failure of Long-Term Planning
17:58 – Capital, Power & Who Really Decides
20:41 – Is BEE Creating Real Entrepreneurs?
24:05 – Indigenous Capital vs Political Elites
27:35 – Has Transformation Been Hijacked?
31:03 – Why South Africa Keeps Missing Economic Turning Points
34:29 – The Myth of Government “Plans”
38:15 – When Business Abandons the State
41:50 – GNU, Power Imbalance & Political Illusions
45:22 – Can the System Still Be Fixed?
49:38 – The Leadership Crisis Unpacked
53:10 – Warning Signs of Collapse
57:43 – Final Thoughts: The Road Ahead

Is South Africa being emotionally manipulated by politics that promise everything and deliver nothing?

In this explosive episode of State of the Nation, Mike speaks with rising political commentator June Hlongwane — a sharp, fearless voice challenging the sacred cows of South African politics. From her journey through #FeesMustFall to her hard critique of communism, BEE, populism, and victim politics, June dissects the structural failures holding the country back — and why the middle class should be deeply concerned.

This is not a soft conversation. It confronts:

-The illusion of “free everything” economics
-Why BEE fails to create real empowerment
-How communist ideology undermines ambition and generational wealth
-The root causes of Gender-Based Violence and systemic failure
-Why property rights are critical for national stability
-The danger of EFF-style politics and authoritarian populism
-How South Africans are being conditioned to blame instead of build
-The growing power of podcasters vs mainstream media
-Why the youth leaving SA is accelerating

June argues that strong families, incentives, accountability, and property rights are the real foundations of progress — not state dependency and protest culture.

This episode is essential viewing for anyone who cares about:
South Africa’s future, economic freedom, governance reform, and real solutions.

Join the conversation:

Is South Africa being programmed to fail?
Tell us in the comments.

Follow @sonacoza on TikTok, Instagram, X & Facebook
Produced by Stream IN Studios – www.streamin.co.za

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction & sponsor message
00:58 – Meet June Hlongwane
02:00 – Why a young woman chooses politics
04:10 – Load shedding as political awakening
06:30 – #FeesMustFall & early political exposure
09:20 – Why “free education” is an illusion
13:45 – Incentives vs entitlement culture
17:30 – The danger of communist ideology
22:10 – Why SA isn’t truly “communal”
26:50 – Family structure as real privilege
32:40 – BEE & the myth of white generational wealth
38:20 – Property rights & the destruction of ambition
43:30 – Why politicians exploit racial narratives
49:00 – EFF, Malema & authoritarian risk
55:20 – Zimbabwe, land grabs & national collapse
1:01:10 – Madlanga Commission & justice failure
1:07:30 – Gender-Based Violence: the systemic breakdown
1:15:00 – Why protest culture replaces real reform
1:23:40 – Is SA moving in the right direction?
1:31:00 – The failure of opposition strategy
1:37:20 – The rise of podcasting & new media
1:45:00 – Can content creators shift national thinking?
1:49:30 – Final thoughts & closing remarks

South Africa is no longer just struggling — it is being pushed to a tipping point.

In this episode of State of the Nation, we unpack a brutally honest conversation exposing how decades of ego-driven governance, social grant dependency, and political self-preservation have hollowed out the South African economy and demoralised its people.

From calls for organised tax revolts to the reality of ghost workers, failing municipalities and the looming G20 “Potemkin village”, this episode lays bare the uncomfortable truth: the state is more interested in reverence than results.

We explore:

-Why social grants became a political control mechanism rather than empowerment tool
-How tax revolts are emerging as a middle-class backlash
-The dangerous culture of rewarding corruption with promotion
-Ghost workers draining billions from collapsing municipalities
-The illusion of governance ahead of the G20 Summit
-Why ordinary South Africans feel betrayed by leadership
-How ego politics and performative diplomacy are replacing real service delivery
-The decay of accountability in commissions of inquiry
-Why charity abroad is prioritised while local communities collapse
-South Africans are not rejecting progress — they are rejecting deception.

This episode challenges the narrative that things are improving and questions whether governance has become a performance instead of a responsibility.

If you care about the future of this country, this is a conversation you cannot ignore.

Stay informed. Stay alert. Demand accountability.

Sponsored by Pace Car Rental

Use code SONA for a discount on your next rental.

Follow @sonacoza on TikTok, Instagram, X & Facebook
Produced by Stream IN Studios – https://www.streamin.co.za

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction & real state of South Africa
02:45 – Social grants as political tool
06:20 – Ego-driven leadership culture
10:40 – The trauma economy explained
14:15 – Why real job creation failed
18:30 – Collapse of municipal capability
22:50 – No planning, no engineers, no accountability
27:10 – Tax revolts & middle-class frustration
31:55 – SARS power vs citizen resistance
36:20 – ANC promotions despite corruption
41:10 – Ghost workers & billions lost
46:30 – G20 and the “Potemkin village” display
52:00 – Foreign causes vs local collapse
57:40 – Fix SA first: Charity begins at home
1:02:10 – Why citizens feel abandoned
1:07:30 – The future South Africans are being forced into
1:13:00 – Final warning and closing thoughts

South Africa has had 31 years since democracy and we’re closer to failure than success. Meanwhile, Asian nations that faced colonialism, war, and devastation transformed themselves into global powerhouses in a single generation.

In this episode, We break down the 10 non-negotiable lessons Asia applied to build prosperity and the exact mistakes South Africa continues to repeat:
1. Why our 5-year plans are a joke
2. How poor education policy crippled our future
3. The obsession with welfare over infrastructure
4. The death of merit-based public service
5. Policy chaos that scares off investment
6. How we destroyed our SME economy
7. And why our obsession with politics is killing innovation
8. This is not ideology. This is a blueprint for national survival.

Join the movement for a better South Africa.
Don’t just complain get involved, share this conversation, and subscribe for more State of the Nation insights.
Follow @sonacoza on TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook
Produced by Stream In Studios – https://www.streamin.co.za
The State Of the Nation is Proudly Sponsored by Pace Car Rental
https://www.pacecarrental.co.za/
Use Code : SONA for a discount today!

Chapters
00:00 Pace Sponsor Message
00:25 Africa vs Asia Same Start, Different Outcomes
01:15 The 31-Year Failure
02:20 Lesson 1: Long-Term National Vision
05:50 Lesson 2: Ruthless Education Standards
09:18 Lesson 3: Merit-Based Civil Service
12:23 Lesson 4: Functional Industrial Policy
16:10 Lesson 5: Export Over Consumption
20:45 Lesson 6: Infrastructure Before Welfare
24:55 Lesson 7: Policy Stability & Investor Trust
28:20 Lesson 8: Social Discipline & Rule of Law
32:10 Lesson 9: SMEs & Family Business Survival
35:22 Lesson 10: Technology & Innovation Obsession
40:05 Final Warning to South Africa

South Africa is facing a political reality most people refuse to confront:
even after corruption, scandal, failed governance and voter decline — the ANC still dominates power and there is no credible replacement in sight.

➡️ Why the ANC still controls South Africa
➡️ Why breakaway parties like MK and EFF aren’t real alternatives
➡️ How commissions of inquiry have become political theatre
➡️ Why BEE was designed by big business — not government
➡️ Why voters are disengaging instead of switching allegiances
➡️ Why even at 20–30% the ANC will still control government
➡️ The internal wars shaping the future of the ANC
➡️ Whether Paul Mashatile becomes the inevitable successor
➡️ Why businesses are quietly abandoning the ANC
➡️ Why South Africa’s “recovery narrative” may be dangerously misleading

This discussion goes beyond surface politics and exposes the real power dynamics operating behind the scenes — big business, political elites, organised crime and foreign interests — all shaping the future of the country while citizens watch from the sidelines.

This isn’t optimism.
This isn’t fearmongering.
This is a brutally honest analysis of where South Africa is heading.

Join the movement for a better South Africa.

Don’t just complain get involved, share this conversation, and subscribe for more State of the Nation insights.
Follow @sonacoza on TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook

Produced by Stream In Studios – https://www.streamin.co.za

The State Of the Nation is Proudly Sponsored by Pace Car Rental
https://www.pacecarrental.co.za/
Use Code : SONA for a discount today!

South Africa may finally be seeing the early signs of an economic turnaround — and in this episode of State of the Nation Business, we break down exactly what’s real, what’s political spin, and what investors are actually responding to.

We sit down with Simon Du Plooy from Corion Capital to unpack the biggest developments in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, including Eskom’s unexpected performance, Transnet’s shock debt auction success, and why S&P upgraded South Africa’s credit rating for international investors.
Join the movement for a better South Africa.

In this episode we cover:
• South Africa’s debt upgrade — and why it shocked the market
S&P’s upgrade of SA’s government debt came after years of instability, budget delays, and political chaos. What changed? Collaboration across political parties — and a primary budget surplus for the third straight year.

• Eskom’s 18-month improvement & the end of Stage 6 fears
SA has seen very limited load shedding for the first time in 15 years, as cash balances grow and diesel use collapses.

• Transnet’s massive comeback
Three months ago, Transnet was close to a cash crisis. Today, it raised R5 billion in a public auction that was eight times oversubscribed — with R42 billion in bids.

Freight volumes are rising again after years of collapse.

• Inflation targeting & the 3% debate
Governor Kganyago finally achieved what many said was impossible: lowering SA’s inflation trend to 3–4% despite rising administered prices and electricity shocks.

• Can SA really sustain growth after 15 years of stagnation?
We unpack SA’s structural challenges — from logistics to electricity to rising municipal costs — and the big question: Can we grow without inflation exploding again?

• The primary surplus: SA’s most underrated victory
South Africa is one of the few countries in the world (alongside Denmark & Switzerland) running a primary surplus. If sustained, SA’s debt mountain can finally start shrinking.


South Africa is moving from crisis management to the early stages of confidence-building.
But the final piece is still missing: corporate investment.
More than R40 billion in capital is waiting — but business wants stability before deploying it.

If government keeps the discipline, SA could enter its first real growth cycle in more than a decade.

Don’t just complain get involved, share this conversation, and subscribe for more State of the Nation insights.
Follow @sonacoza on TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook

Produced by Stream In Studios – https://www.streamin.co.za

The State Of the Nation is Proudly Sponsored by Pace Car Rental
https://www.pacecarrental.co.za/
Use Code : SONA for a discount today!

This episode will shock you.

I make the argument that Paul Mashatile should be South Africa’s next president — not because he’s the best leader, but because he’s the only candidate whose weakness might finally force accountability on the presidency.

South Africa is heading into the ANC succession battle, coalition politics, and the post-Ramaphosa era — and none of the alternatives look convincing. This analysis breaks down why the ANC will remain the biggest party, why every opposition contender has fatal limits, and why Mashatile’s scandals might ironically be South Africa’s best defence against unchecked presidential power.

We unpack:

-Why the ANC, despite corruption and collapse, still dominates rural South Africa
-Why the DA refuses to chase majority support and will stay stuck at the margins
-Why Jacob Zuma’s MK Party is a one-man cult — and what happens when he’s gone
-Why the EFF has peaked and Malema has no successor
-Why no other party can reach 40% — not now, not soon
-The coming end of Ramaphosa’s “departure lounge” presidency
-The ANC’s real shortlist: Ramokgopa, Mokonyane, Mbalula, and why none can win coalitions

Then we get to the core argument:

-Why Paul Mashatile, the “Dark Prince”, is the most likely and most useful next president.
-He’s already Deputy President — the pole position candidate
-He’s a survivor who adapts to whichever coalition keeps him in power
-His scandals guarantee constant scrutiny — media, opposition, Parliament, civil society
-A compromised president cannot govern unchecked
-A “clean” president with no scandals becomes dangerously unchallenged (like Mbeki on AIDS)

South Africa may not be ready for a great president — but it may be ready for a president who cannot get away with anything.

This is the most brutally honest succession analysis you’ll hear anywhere.


Don’t just complain get involved, share this conversation, and subscribe for more State of the Nation insights.
Follow @sonacoza on TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook

Produced by Stream In Studios – https://www.streamin.co.za

The State Of the Nation is Proudly Sponsored by Pace Car Rental
https://www.pacecarrental.co.za/
Use Code : SONA for a discount today!

BEE has shaped South Africa’s economy for nearly 30 years — but is it helping ordinary people, or has it become a system that rewards the connected few?
In this hard-hitting episode of State of the Nation, we break down the truth behind Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, why it’s failing to deliver real transformation, and how corruption, middlemen, and political interference have derailed the policy from its original purpose.

This conversation cuts through the ideology and looks at the facts, the failures, and the future of economic empowerment in South Africa.

In this episode we unpack:

Why BEE has not reduced unemployment or inequality
-How “passive shareholders” and politically-connected elites exploit the system
-Fake scorecards, fronting, and corruption inside procurement
-How BEE hurts small businesses and kills competition
-Why red tape blocks real black entrepreneurship
-Whether BEE scares away investment and costs South Africans jobs
-What a real, functional empowerment system would look like
-Why South Africa needs growth more than slogans
-What happens when BEE eventually ends — and what replaces it

This is the most honest, detailed, no-sugarcoating conversation on BEE you’ll hear this year.


Join the movement for a better South Africa.

Don’t just complain get involved, share this conversation, and subscribe for more State of the Nation insights.
Follow @sonacoza on TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook

Produced by Stream In Studios – https://www.streamin.co.za

The State Of the Nation is Proudly Sponsored by Pace Car Rental
https://www.pacecarrental.co.za/
Use Code : SONA for a discount today!

Chapters:
00:05 – Meet the BEE Commissioner
01:06 – Has BEE Actually Worked?
01:31 – Why Government Claims BEE Is “Working”
01:42 – Gaming the System & Fake Scorecards
03:35 – “If It’s Not Working, Do It Harder?”
04:00 – Entrepreneurship vs BEE: Are They Opposites?
05:35 – Rise of Passive Politically-Connected Shareholders
06:40 – Equity vs Building Real Businesses
07:17 – Barriers to Entry & Black Access to Capital
09:41 – “White Generational Wealth”: Myth or Reality?
12:00 – What Does Equality Actually Mean in SA?
14:00 – Why SA’s Economy Hasn’t Grown in 15 Years
15:21 – Does BEE Hurt Growth? Matona Says No
16:54 – Entrepreneurship, Risk & the Train Analogy
17:23 – Ownership vs Supply Chains: Where Policy Focuses
21:52 – Is BEE Political Rather Than Economic?
23:27 – Are Black Entrepreneurs Really Lacking Capital?
25:21 – Does Regulation Entrench Big Business?
29:47 – The “Corporate Magnet”: Why Talent Avoids Startups
30:10 – Collateral, Loans & Racial Assumptions
32:12 – Ease of Doing Business: Is BEE Part of the Problem?
33:34 – Red Tape Is Killing Everyone
34:12 – Why BEE Is Under Fire Right Now
35:01 – Unintended Consequences & Middleman Capture
39:51 – “BEE Kills Competition”: Matona Disagrees
40:42 – ESG vs SA’s Transformation Debate
41:48 – Who Really Benefits From BEE?
43:16 – The R40 Billion “BEE Premium” in Procurement
44:16 – Middlemen, Corruption & What BEE Never Planned For
45:14 – “I’ll Never Give Shares in My Company” – Condani Masebi
46:53 – When Will BEE End? Matona’s Answer
48:18 – Will We Drag Apartheid Into the Next Generation?
49:56 – Final Thoughts & Invitation to Debate BEE

As Johannesburg’s G20 summit collapses with world leaders withdrawing one after another. Mike Sham explains why this embarrassment is actually the best thing that could’ve happened to South Africa.

For 30 years, South Africa lived off the “Rainbow Nation” myth special treatment, sympathy, global guilt, and Mandela nostalgia. That era is over. And the world is no longer willing to reward our failure, corruption, collapsing cities, pit latrine deaths, and government denialism.

we break down:
1. Why Xi Jinping’s withdrawal matters more than Trump’s
2. How SA was artificially boosted into the G20 despite not qualifying
3. The Rainbow Nation honeymoon and how we abused it
4. How BRICS cannot rescue us from our own dysfunction
5. Why the world is finally giving South Africa tough love and why we need it
6. SA’s squandered inheritance, from infrastructure to minerals to human capital
7. Why we don’t deserve to be in the G20 and why getting kicked out may save us

This is the end of the global free pass.
And the beginning of South Africa being forced — finally — to earn its place.



Join the movement for a better South Africa.
Don’t just complain get involved, share this conversation, and subscribe for more State of the Nation insights.
Follow @sonacoza on TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook
Produced by Stream In Studios – https://www.streamin.co.za
The State Of the Nation is Proudly Sponsored by Pace Car Rental
https://www.pacecarrental.co.za/
Use Code : SONA for a discount today!

Chapters:
00:00 – G20 Summit Collapse Begins
00:34 – Why SA’s Global Reputation Just Crashed
01:11 – The End of “Rainbow Nation” Favouritism
01:36 – Mandela Halo vs Today’s Reality
01:58 – World Gave SA a Free Pass… Until Now
02:14 – Trump, China & the Big Diplomatic Snub
03:00 – How SA Landed in the G20 (Not on Merit)
03:37 – G7 → G20: SA’s Lucky Break Explained
04:46 – Russia, BRICS & SA’s Lost Advantage
05:40 – SA Added as Africa’s Token Seat
06:57 – The Peak: World Cups, Mandela, Optimism
07:08 – The Arms Deal: Where It All Went Wrong
07:31 – Zuma Era: World Trust Evaporates
08:16 – Global Standards Rise, SA Falls Behind
08:44 – Apartheid Excuses No Longer Work
09:26 – BRICS Strategy Backfires
09:56 – Trump Shines Harsh Light on SA Decline
10:48 – Even BRICS Starts Distancing from SA
11:07 – Tough Love Might Save SA
11:21 – No More International Favour for Failure
11:29 – Pit Latrines Become National Shame
12:19 – The Illusion of Global Respect is Gone
12:32 – SA’s Real Rank: Mid-Table Country
12:51 – Squandered Inheritance of 1994
13:20 – G20 Mess Exposes Deep Dysfunction
13:57 – Ease of Doing Business: 84th in the World
14:22 – A Country Without Consequences
14:41 – Corruption That Costs Lives, Not Money
15:02 – WSJ: Joburg Traffic-Light Embarrassment
15:55 – Why SA Doesn’t Belong in the G20 (Yet)
16:05 – 30% Pass Marks = National Decline
16:23 – Govt Removes Signs, Not Problems
16:58 – SA Is On Its Own Now — And Must Adapt
17:35 – No More “Event Country” Thinking
17:51 – How SA Becomes the Jewel of Africa
18:14 – Apply the Law: The One Fix That Works
19:12 – Budget Reality Check: Stabilising the Collapse
19:31 – National Entitlement Is Holding SA Back
19:51 – Getting Kicked Out of the G20 Might Save Us

South Africa just hit a critical moment — a bottoming-out economy, a GNU learning to govern together, and a budget speech that may have quietly shifted the country’s trajectory. Dr. Frans Cronjé joins Mike Sham to break down the numbers, the politics, the missed opportunities, and the unexpected signs of life inside the ANC–DA alliance.

From the peak of state capture to the new fiscal “common sense,” from BEE’s decline to investor confidence, and from MK’s threat to America’s G20 snub — this conversation cuts through noise and tells you where South Africa actually stands.

If you care about the country’s future, this is the episode to watch.

Follow @sonacoza on TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook

Produced by Stream In Studios – https://www.streamin.co.za

This episode is sponsored by Pace Car Rental — South Africa’s trusted car hire brand. Book online and use the code SONA to get an exclusive discount on your next rental.

Chapters:
00:03 — South Africa in Crisis: Commissions, GNU, Ministers Fired
00:51 — Sponsor Message: Pace Car Rental
01:20 — Starting with the Medium-Term Budget Speech
01:41 — “South Africa Has Hit Bottom”
01:50 — Why the Budget Was Surprisingly Good
02:23 — Debt Triple What It Was 15 Years Ago
03:49 — Budget Deficit, Debt Curve & Turning Point
04:26 — Global Tailwinds: Dollar, Bonds, Rates
06:11 — Growth Could Double to 2% — But Is It Enough?
07:02 — Is the GNU Actually Working?
07:22 — The ANC’s Grip on the Economic Cluster
07:48 — “Easier to Do Business?” Frans Pushes Back
08:16 — Why SA Grows at 1% Instead of 5%
09:15 — BEE as an Anti-Investment Tax
10:45 — Ports, Rail & the Infrastructure Collapse
11:02 — DA’s New BEE Proposal Shifts the Mood
11:49 — “Peak BEE”: Public Opinion Has Turned
12:37 — Are South Africans Over It? Polling Says Yes
14:23 — Public Opinion Now Outrunning the ANC
15:51 — Win the Argument Before the Election
16:41 — Plug: Cronjé’s “Common Sense” Platform
17:20 — Why SA Overrates Foreign Investment
18:05 — Property Rights & Local Investor Anxiety
19:12 — Local vs Global Investors: Same Fears
20:18 — SA Needs Double the Investment It Has
20:32 — Budget Optimism vs Policy Reality
21:00 — What Happens to the “Crazy Ministers”?
22:03 — How 400 Years of One-Party Rule Ended
23:25 — The DA–ANC Clash That Matured the GNU
24:34 — Political Forces You Cannot Stop
25:37 — Why Business Misreads Politics
27:24 — IRR Predictions That All Came True
28:13 — GNU Chemistry: Inside the Machine
28:29 — Dion George Firing & “Co-President John”
29:12 — Ramaphosa Fires a Minister on Request
30:07 — Drone Fishing: How Bad Law Gets Made
31:32 — Lion Breeding, Hunting & Rural Economics
33:13 — Conservation vs Ideology
35:45 — Why This Cabinet Change Matters
36:16 — The Buffalo Joke (With a Point)
37:09 — Mining Destroyed by Cadastre Chaos
38:20 — Don’t Celebrate the Budget Too Soon
39:21 — GNU Retreat: Dancing & Cricket Bonding
40:41 — Has ANC Moved Away from MK & EFF?
42:44 — The “New Sheriff” Strategy the ANC Needed
45:15 — MK Party: What Went Wrong?
47:21 — America Misreads South Africa
52:05 — South Africa Is Culturally Center-Right
53:37 — “Trump Voters & South Africans Are Alike”
55:10 — Farm Murder Data: The Real Picture
56:27 — Property Rights: Everyone Is Vulnerable
57:29 — America’s One-Group Obsession
58:47 — The Refugee Debate Contradictions
59:07 — Closing Thoughts: Is SA Finally Turning?

South Africa’s cities are collapsing under the weight of corruption and incompetence — yet voters keep rewarding the same parties responsible for the decay. In this episode, we expose how Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane have become case studies in political hostage-taking. From inflated property valuations and broken service delivery to metro police corruption and coalition chaos, we ask: why do citizens defend their abusers?

Mike Sham unpacks the Stockholm Syndrome gripping our metros — where voters mistake small “acts of kindness” for good governance and forget what functional cities look like. It’s time for South Africans to break free from political captivity and demand real accountability.

Join the movement for a better South Africa.
Don’t just complain get involved, share this conversation, and subscribe for more State of the Nation insights.
Follow @sonacoza on TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook
Produced by Stream In Studios – https://www.streamin.co.za
The State Of the Nation is Proudly Sponsored by Pace Car Rental
https://www.pacecarrental.co.za/
Use Code : SONA for a discount today!

Chapters:
00:13 — Sponsor Message: Pace Car Rental (use code SONA)
00:35 — Politicians’ Hatred for South Africans
00:57 — How Cities Fund Themselves off Citizens
01:25 — The City’s Profit Model and Exploitation
02:17 — Why the ANC Hates the Middle Class
02:53 — Citizens Treated as Hostages
03:04 — Rigged Property Valuations Explained
04:13 — The Service Delivery Illusion
04:44 — Milking vs. Slaughtering the Middle Class
05:28 — Why Entrepreneurs Are Leaving Gauteng Cities
06:07 — Why Cities Refuse to Improve
06:29 — Ekurhuleni: Criminal Syndicates in Uniform
06:52 — Coalition Hypocrisy: ANC & EFF Governance
07:34 — Why the ANC Still Gets Votes
07:58 — Stockholm Syndrome: The Captive Voter Mindset
09:12 — Small Kindnesses and False Gratitude
10:13 — Losing Perspective: Isolation from Functioning Cities
11:12 — Emotional Confusion and Apartheid Guilt
14:10 — The Khayelitsha Distraction
15:42 — Hostage Voters: 31 Years of Captivity
16:46 — Coalition Manipulation and Manufactured Failure
17:03 — Gauteng’s Premier and Fear of Success
17:04 — The Hostage Mindset: Will It Change?
17:25 — 2024 Election Wake-Up Call
18:05 — Enough’s Enough: Breaking the Captivity Cycle

Our most-watched collaborator @bonsaishongwe is back and we go straight for the jugular.

We unpack how criminal syndicates allegedly ran a main line into the Hawks, why the Scorpions’ promise died on contact with politics, and how grandstanding at commissions masks a deeper rot. We get into Shadrack Sibiya’s theatrics, Cassel Matale’s deputy-minister faceplant, the never-ending cabinet bloat, and three brutally realistic GNU scenarios (muddle, break, or finally deliver). We also connect corruption to real casualties from assassinations to collapsing hospitals and ask who’s actually doing the hard questioning in Parliament.

Highlights

1. “Captured Hawks” vs the promise of the Scorpions
2. Sibiya’s performance and Matale’s empty portfolio problem
3. Why the DA whiffed in the spotlight and who unexpectedly landed blows
4. GNU scenarios: collapse, drift, or decisive reform (and what that means for 2025+)

Corruption’s body count: from whistle-blowers to hospital wards

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Chapters & Timestamps
01:00:19 — Opening & Bonsai Shongwe Returns
01:01:08 — The Capture of the Hawks
01:02:49 — Shadrack Sibiya: At the Centre of It All
01:04:25 — Kassel Matale & the Farce of Deputy Ministers
01:05:44 — Cabinet Bloat & the GNU Excuse
01:06:15 — DA’s Bad Negotiation & Fake Portfolios
01:07:16 — The Myth of a Smaller Cabinet
01:07:39 — Senzoh Mchunu’s “Immediately” Disaster
01:09:00 — Procedural Chaos & Ministerial Incompetence
01:10:27 — Bheki Cele’s “I Slept at His House” Scandal
01:11:09 — Parliament’s Unexpected Stars
01:12:37 — Malema, ANC MPs & Surprising Oversight
01:13:17 — DA’s Tone-Deaf Performance
01:15:55 — MK Party’s Aggressive Strategy
01:16:11 — DA’s Missed Opportunity on Live TV
01:17:03 — Ian Cameron & Glynis Breytenbach: Missing in Action
01:18:30 — Ashley Sauls’ Best & Worst Moments
01:21:40 — Will Ramaphosa & the Big Names Testify?
01:23:07 — The ANC’s Endless “Nine Wasted Years” Narrative
01:24:52 — The ANC Problem: Not Just Zuma
01:25:13 — Thuli Madonsela’s Amnesty Blunder
01:25:43 — Why “Corruption is Bad” Isn’t Enough Anymore
01:27:12 — Political Fallout Is Coming
01:28:13 — Corruption Now Means Missing Lives
01:29:30 — South Africans Dying in Hospitals
01:30:00 — GNU Retreat: Can It Work?
01:31:19 — Competing GNU Agendas: ANC vs DA
01:32:56 — The Three GNU Scenarios
01:34:43 — Scenario One: The Break-Up
01:36:33 — Scenario Two: Muddling Along
01:39:08 — Scenario Three: Finding Each Other
01:42:49 — Ramaphosa’s Leadership Vacuum
01:44:23 — The Simple Fix: 5% Growth Within Reach
01:46:06 — Will They Finally Lead or Keep Talking Revolution?
01:48:21 — The ANC: Out of Touch with a New Generation
01:50:45 — Why Real Change Won’t Come from Luthuli House
01:52:19 — Closing & Resilience of Ordinary South Africans

After months of dysfunction, mistrust, and collapsing credibility, the Government of National Unity (GNU) held a quiet retreat . What if — for the first time — the ANC and DA realized their only salvation is each other?

In this episode of State of the Nation, Mike Sham dissects how both parties are cornered politically and economically — and why desperation might finally produce cooperation.

From the Madlanga Commission to by-election losses, from foreign policy failures to budget fights, this analysis explores a radical possibility:
A functioning GNU that unlocks growth, cleans up corruption, and revives investor confidence.

Could the ANC and DA’s survival instinct actually fix South Africa?
This is the big political “what if” of 2025.

Watch if you want to understand:

The real reason the GNU was formed — and why it’s failing
How the ANC deceived its coalition partners
Why the DA traded principle for power — and got burned
The turning point after the budget speech showdown
How Trump’s intervention and China–US détente reshaped the game
Why cooperation might now be a risk-free trade for both parties
What 5% growth could look like if SA finally gets out of its own way

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00:00 Intro – Sponsored by Pace Car Rental (use code SONA)
00:20 GNU Retreat Symbol or Turning Point?
01:00 How the ANC Lost Power — and Its Mind
02:30 The Strategy of Deception: Divide, Rule, and Control
04:30 The DA’s Weak Bargain and the 3-Ministry Trap
06:10 The Red Line Myth — and How the ANC Crossed Them All
07:30 Budget War: The DA’s First Real Victory
08:15 Retaliation and Fallout – GNU Turns Toxic
09:30 Trump’s Intervention: The White House Humiliation
10:30 Madlanga Commission – Corruption, Murder & the Death of Accountability
12:00 Both Parties in Crisis: By-Elections and Broken Promises
13:00 The GNU Retreat – A Last-Ditch Reset
14:00 Could Cooperation Save Both the ANC and DA?
15:20 What 5% Growth Would Actually Take
16:30 Cleaning Up the State and Winning Back Investors
18:00 How the US–China Deal Changes South Africa’s Game
19:30 A Risk-Free Trade: When Doing the Right Thing Pays
20:30 Could the GNU Finally Start Working?
21:30 Closing Thoughts – Hope, Strategy, or Illusion?

South Africa’s economy didn’t just stall — it was deliberately sabotaged.
Mike Sham sits down with David Ansara, CEO of the Free Market Foundation, to dissect how political power strangled growth, how BE became legalized corruption, and why a free-market mindset — not state control — is South Africa’s only way out.

They dive deep into:

Why the ANC chose no-growth to stay in control
How BE and procurement destroyed competitiveness
The real cost of South Africa’s 32 ministers & bloated state
Lessons from Argentina’s libertarian “chainsaw revolution” under Javier Milei
What a smaller, freer, faster South Africa could actually look like

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Chapters:

00:00 – Intro & Pace Car Rental sponsor
01:20 – Why the Free Market Still Funds South Africa
03:10 – Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset in Policy
06:20 – How the ANC Chose No Growth to Keep Control
09:45 – Mining Charter & BE as Growth Killers
13:05 – Private Entrepreneurs vs State Dependence
15:45 – How the State Breeds Criminal Entrepreneurs
19:30 – Why Welfare Dependency Keeps the Poor Poor
23:00 – Debt, Inflation & Tax — The Invisible Theft
26:10 – Debunking the Nordic Socialism Myth
32:20 – Public vs Private Performance in SA
36:45 – The BE Bill & DA’s Non-Racial Alternative
42:10 – The Real Cost of BE: R290 Billion a Year
46:55 – Why BE Increased Black Inequality
51:30 – Fidelity Case & How BE Hurts Workers
56:00 – Why BE Must Be Scrapped Entirely
59:10 – Argentina’s Chainsaw Revolution – Javier Milei
01:07:40 – How Milei Defied the System & Beat Inflation
01:15:30 – Lessons for South Africa from Argentina
01:22:40 – GNU vs Free Market Freedom
01:29:00 – Closing & Support Free Market Foundation

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South African markets are on fire — up 32%, outpacing global returns. But can this rally last?

David Bacher, CIO of Corion Capital, joins Mike Sham on State of the Nation Business to unpack the numbers behind South Africa’s market boom, the global drivers behind it, and where smart money is going next.

They discuss the US-China trade thaw, South Africa’s greylist exit, property and banking rebounds, and whether the “winning habit” can spread from stocks to the real economy.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro
00:28 – Global markets keep rallying
01:00 – AI, M&A, and US earnings drive growth
03:00 – Are valuations stretched?
04:50 – What rising asset prices mean for South Africans
06:50 – Why US earnings matter for global investors
07:05 – Trade thaw: Trump & Xi handshake moment
08:53 – South Africa exits FATF grey list
10:55 – SA assets: top global performers over 5 years
11:54 – Resource sector and platinum swings
13:09 – Gold, silver, and commodities surge
14:15 – Property and banking shares rebound
15:45 – How rate cuts could drive further growth
16:52 – SA assets lead with 32% gains
17:19 – What’s next for investors? Balance, not greed
19:10 – Transnet, energy, and signs of improvement
20:28 – “Winning can become a habit” – turning point for SA
21:18 – Outro and thanks to Corion Capital

South Africa’s Government of National Unity didn’t appear out of thin air — it was negotiated in 14 days under heavy pressure. Did Ramaphosa outplay Steenhuisen? Did the small parties cash in? And why has stability not translated into growth or jobs?

Mike Sham sits down with Mandy Wiener, author of The Deal, for a blow-by-blow on the GNU talks: who blinked, who bluffed, and what’s breaking down 18 months later.

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Chapters
00:00 Cold open – Who really won the GNU?
01:12 Why the GNU had to be built in 14 days
03:20 Polls vs belief: ANC misread + MK surge
06:45 DA’s early “showing the hand” mistake
09:10 BATNA and clock-running: ANC’s leverage play
12:05 Why small parties mattered (cover + numbers)
14:18 KZN knife-edge & the NFP swing seat
16:40 The signed “statement of intent” vs real power
19:25 Cabinet math's: expansion, dilution, and DA’s gripe
22:10 Provinces ≠ national: why deals diverged
24:30 Business pressure: myth or decisive factor?
27:55 GNU scorecard: stability vs zero growth/jobs
31:10 Could ANC flip to EFF/MK later?
34:05 What would actually fix coalition chaos
36:10 Final take: who won the negotiations—and what it means next

South African politics gets the Halloween treatment. From Ramaphosa the Invisible Man to Gayton the Exorcist, Mike Sham opens the doors to the Haunted House of Governance — where the ghosts never retire and the monsters make policy.

Step inside the Haunted House of South African politics — if you dare.

Cyril Ramaphosa – The Invisible Man
Paul Mashatile – The Dark Prince of Mahlamba Ndlopfu
Fikile Mbalula – The Zombie of Luthuli House
Helen Zille – The Twitter Witch
John Steenhuisen – The Ghost of Opposition Past
Gayton McKenzie – The Political Exorcist
Julius Malema – The Revolutionary Demon
Jacob Zuma – The Undead King
John Hlophe – The Judge of the Damned
…and many more.

This satirical Halloween special from Mike Sham and State of the Nation exposes the dark comedy of our political class — the ghosts who refuse to go quietly.

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Analyst Sandile Swana says we’re no longer governed by policy — we’re run by cartels. From tenders to police, from Parliament to cabinet — the rot is systemic. The ANC can’t contain it. The DA’s tied to business. And Ramaphosa’s still building ‘war rooms’ instead of fixing real systems.

This isn’t politics — it’s organized crime with a flag.


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00:00 – Intro & Sponsor
00:50 – Setting the Scene: Madlanga & Ad Hoc Commissions
02:07 – Why South Africa Didn’t Need Another Commission
03:58 – The Mafia State: Corruption About Money, Not Ideology
05:50 – Ramaphosa’s Parallel Structures & Legal Overreach
07:03 – Parliament vs The Presidency: Who Really Governs?
09:29 – Proof of the Mafia State: Crime and the State Are One
11:06 – ANC Infighting: Will Mkhunu Be the Fall Guy?
12:49 – DA’s Dilemma: Alliance With a Rotten ANC
14:44 – Business Capturing Politics: The DA Problem
17:09 – Entrepreneurs vs Monopoly Capital
20:07 – Organized Crime, Political Cover & the Commissions
24:10 – The Secret Deals of 1994
25:22 – How the Truth Was Buried: TRC 2.0 Coming
28:13 – From Djibouti to Cape Town: Africa’s Crime Pipeline
30:20 – Political Fallout: ANC Will Pay the Price
31:25 – The ANC’s Legitimacy Crisis
36:20 – Collapse of Cadre Quality Inside the ANC
38:05 – The Leadership Vacuum Across Parties
40:32 – Can MK & EFF Mature Into Real Alternatives?
41:25 – Political Culture of Lawlessness and Protection
44:55 – Economic Collapse: Two Years of Shrinking Growth
45:18 – Low Ambition: “We’re Choosing to Be Poor”
46:56 – The Real Unemployment Crisis in Every Province
50:09 – BEE and the Psychology of Power
51:12 – From Union Mindset to Ownership Mindset
52:40 – Crumbs From the Table: The Failure of Black Empowerment
54:39 – State Capture by Criminals
55:31 – Fear, Hope & Paralysis in South Africa
56:42 – Closing Remarks & Outro

Politicians keep promising to “reveal the truth when the time is right.” But what more could possibly shock South Africans after everything we’ve witnessed state capture, Phala Phala, assassinations, and corruption at every level? Mike Sham dismantles the political theatre and asks a simple question: what secrets are left to protect when the whole system is already exposed?

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01:00 Welcome to the State of the Nation Weekly Update – sponsored by Pace Car Rental
01:30 Politicians and the soap opera of secrecy
02:00 “When the time is right, I’ll tell you what I know” – the oldest trick in SA politics
03:00 Zuma, Malema, and McKenzie all playing the same game
04:00 What “explosive” information could they possibly be hiding?
05:00 State capture, Phala Phala, and the public protector’s gymnastics
06:00 SARS redefining corruption with “unperfected transactions”
07:00 Police collusion, Babita Deokaran, and political silence
08:00 Ministers dismantling task teams at midnight
09:00 Corruption hiding in plain sight – and still they talk of “secrets”
10:00 Rappers in government suits – luxury lifestyles on civil servant salaries
11:00 The public already knows – what are we being “protected” from?
12:00 Operation VULANDLELA and the illusion of saving the country
13:00 Nothing left to shock South Africans anymore
14:00 Final message – stop promising revelations, start facing justice

Mike Sham sits down with Helen Zille, the DA’s Johannesburg mayoral candidate, for a no-nonsense discussion about the city’s collapse and whether it can still be saved.

Zille unpacks the rot in Johannesburg’s infrastructure, the chaos in billing and city power, and why she believes transparency, accountability, and brutal honesty are the only way forward. She also confronts tough questions on coalitions, corruption, and the ANC’s dysfunction and lays out her plan to restore services and rebuild trust in the city.

Topics covered:

1. Why Johannesburg’s infrastructure is collapsing
2. Fixing the broken billing and electricity systems
3. The PIE Act and illegal land occupations
4. The ANC’s factional chaos and failed governance
5. Cape Town’s model of service delivery
6. The DA’s role in the Government of National Unity

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Chapters:
00:00 Intro – The State of Johannesburg
01:12 Can Johannesburg Be Saved
03:22 Cape Town vs Johannesburg – Why One Works and the Other Doesn’t
06:25 The Real Cost of Fixing Joburg’s Infrastructure
08:17 Billing Chaos & City Power in the Red
11:10 How the ANC Turned Entities Into Looting Channels
13:06 The Concession Model – A Faster Way to Fix the City
14:30 The Age Question & Energy to Lead
16:05 Cape Town’s Spending Reality – The Data Nobody Talks About
20:00 The Housing Nightmare & The PIE Act Trap
24:10 The ANC’s Internal Collapse & Chaos in Governance
27:50 Johannesburg’s Illegal Evictions & the Law Hypocrisy
30:00 The DA’s National Impact – What Has the GNU Achieved
34:10 Why the DA Stays in Coalition with the ANC
37:40 The Firing of Andrew Whitfield & Ramaphosa’s Hypocrisy
40:05 Race Politics, the Media, and BEE’s Failure
42:00 The Criminal Justice System Is the Core Battle
44:00 Closing Challenge – Vote to Fix It or Live in Decay
45:15 Outro – Support & Subscribe

South Africa’s political landscape is wide open the ANC is collapsing under the weight of corruption, incompetence, and public disgust. Yet every major opposition party DA, EFF, IFP, MK, PA, ActionSA — is fumbling the chance of a lifetime.

In this Weekly Update, Mike Sham breaks down how each party has boxed itself into identity politics instead of national vision. From the DA’s identity crisis to MK’s nostalgia trap and EFF’s authoritarian streak, this is the raw truth about why South Africa still has no true centrist, unifying political force and what it will take to create one.

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South Africa’s economy is flatlining. Khandani Msibi (Chair, 360GSG & Doves Group Holdings) lays out a ruthless, practical plan cut anti-growth regulatory choke points, build reliable baseload power, back local innovation (biotech, vaccines, nanotech), and realign state–private roles to create industrial jobs at scale. We get specific: refineries/regulations, Reserve Bank/FSCA incentive traps, why medical inflation outpaces wages, and how to turn SA’s R&D into export-class products.

Comment with the ONE policy lever you’d pull first for growth?

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00:00 Intro & sponsor (tighten to ≤20s)
01:04 From funerals → insurance → healthcare → biotech
05:01 SA-made biotech (malaria reformulation, VLP vaccines, nanotech)
10:58 Why SA R&D is underfunded; platform thinking beyond COVID
16:14 State vs private where each must play (power, rail, ports)
20:15 “Run the state like the house (casino), not a corporate” – multiplier math
28:14 Two captures: elite legalised vs petty procurement—same outcome
34:32 Public → private creep in healthcare; queues vs access
35:02 SA growth problem: no owner, no targets, no SAR of growth
41:19 Environmental veto power vs industrial strategy
46:24 Ideology costs: energy, foreign policy, autos, China exposure
53:24 BEE design flaw: regulators crush black enterprise; build peers, not juniors
1:05:18 Three state-made choke points (CIDB, FSCA cash flow, undertaker leverage)
1:12:35 Township enterprise destroyed by policy mismatch; what to reverse
1:20:14 Action close: growth first, ruthless execution

South Africa’s former empowerment model is now strangling growth.
In this episode of State of the Nation, we unpack how Black Economic Empowerment began as a corporate self-defense move — and why it’s now killing entrepreneurship and efficiency.

We trace the roots of BEE from 1990 through the mining economy, the fall of communism, and how political elites turned it into a billion-rand patronage system.
The numbers are clear: 50% unemployment, collapsing SMEs, and a government paying 25% more for everything it buys.

It’s time for a reset — from race-based compliance to real black entrepreneurship.

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Former Statistician-General Dr Pali Lehohla breaks down South Africa’s decline in numbers collapsing education, fake “10-point plans,” and an economy stuck below 1% growth.
He explains what real policy, modelling, and leadership would take to fix it.
No politics. Just data, truth, and the roadmap out of failure.

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This week on Weekly Update, we unpack the chaos inside South Africa’s policing and political system from the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team to the shocking revelations in both the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee.

We trace how the rot runs deep corrupt police generals, criminal syndicates with Lamborghinis, and ANC politicians shielding the very people looting hospitals and killing whistleblowers. This is not just politics this is about lives lost and a state captured by crime.

We also break down:
1. Why Senzo Mchunu shut down the Political Killings Task Team
2. The five major crime syndicates exposed including Cat Matlala and Morgan Maumela
3. The link between Babita Deokaran’s murder and hospital corruption
4. How Parliament’s committee could finally force accountability
5. What this means for South Africa’s 2026 political landscape

Comment below will anyone go to jail, or will the ANC shred another commission report?

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Gold has exploded to $4,000 an ounce, doubling in just two years — but what does that mean for South Africa’s economy, mining sector, and investors?

In this episode of State of the Nation Business, Mike Sham sits down with Simon Du Plooy, Head of Asset Allocation at Corion Capital, to unpack the global gold boom and its ripple effects:
• Why central banks and investors are piling into gold
• How global tensions and debt are driving uncertainty
• Why South Africa — once the world’s gold giant — has fallen behind
• What this means for mining jobs, exports, and the JSE
• The surprise winners: South African banks vs. gold miners

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South Africa’s problems won’t be solved by another “national dialogue.”
They’ll be solved by reimagining the entire system from policing and education to the economy and governance using what actually works around the world.

In this week Mike unpacks
1. Why our criminal justice system has collapsed
2. How education and unions are holding back a generation
3. Why economic growth, not ideology, must come first
4. How to design a system that works even under bad governments

Mike explains why the next decade will decide South Africa’s fate and why copying successful global systems may be our only way out.


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For the first time in 30 years, Parliament is doing its job and the fallout could rewrite South Africa’s political map.

In this episode, Mike Sham and Bonsai Shongwe unpack the showdown between the Madlanga Commission and the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee investigating police capture, corruption, and political interference.
We go beyond the headlines to expose how decades of commissions were used to bury accountability and why, for the first time, Parliament’s public process is forcing the truth into the open.

We break down:
1. Why Parliament Commissions the difference between public scrutiny and presidential spin
2. The Masemola vs Mkhwanazi contrast politician vs cop, spin vs duty
3. How rule of law directly drives jobs, hospitals, and growth and why corruption kills citizens, not just budgets
4. The Tembisa Hospital “franchise” of theft and what it says about the ANC’s moral collapse
5. The weaponisation of words like “transformation” and “inclusion” and how BEE has been turned into a psychological cage
6. Inside the BEE conference disaster: when “empowerment” became “just give us money”
7. Why creators like Mac G succeeded only because they escaped South African policy
8. The coming death of SABC and the post-office model sell Auckland Park before it’s worthless
9. How private innovation beats state control Eskom, education, business every single time
10. local elections in 2026 will be a referendum: ideology vs delivery
11. he political bomb about to drop when Cibiya testifies on Monday

This is the conversation the mainstream will never host — unfiltered, uncomfortable, and absolutely necessary.

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South Africa’s greatest threat isn’t crime, corruption, or even the collapsing municipalities — it’s debt.
Our national debt has exploded to R5.8 trillion — 78% of GDP — and it’s still rising. Every bailout, every wage hike, every commission hearing feeds the beast while the economy flatlines.

Debt-servicing costs: R426 billion this year (up from R386 billion)
Social spending: R422 billion, up from R267 billion in 2024
SOE bailouts: R230 billion, with Eskom and Transnet draining the treasury
Public-sector wage bill: R750 billion and climbing

Meanwhile, unemployment sits at 33% (real closer to 50%), over 8 000 businesses have been liquidated, and our growth rate lags far behind peers. If South Africa had grown at 4% like similar economies, unemployment would be under 10%.

While politicians hold BEE seminars and the GNU brawls over the budget, the country’s finances are being eaten alive.

This is the monster that stalks South Africa — the monster of debt.
We either fix it by unleashing talent, opening for business like India, and reigniting growth, or it will be fixed for us — by the IMF.

Join the movement for a better South Africa.
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The IRR’s Gabriel Crouse joins State of the Nation to expose how South Africa’s new Regulation 910 forces companies to police “racial over-representation” and can bankrupt firms with 10 % of revenue fines. He explains how the same ideology drives Expropriation Without Compensation and why these policies threaten jobs, property rights, and the Constitution itself.

We unpack what this means for every business owner, worker, and investor and how South Africans can fight back before the economy collapses.

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Join us at our all day event in November Reset South Africa!
BOOK NOW – https://sona.co.za/index.php/events/

Today we pull the threads of the Madlanga Commission’s most chaotic week an evidence leader’s sudden withdrawal, Ambassador (and former minister) Nathi Mthethwa’s death in Paris, and General Dumisani Kumalo’s abrupt illness all while explosive testimony links organised crime, cartel economics, and political power.

@MightiJamieTV joins State of the Nation to map the alleged network: hospital looting, procurement games, “fixers,” and why the opposition’s silence inside the GNU matters. We cut through the noise: what the Commission can surface, what Parliament’s ad hoc committee can and can’t do, and why the real cost is counted in lives not headlines.

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Herman Mashaba doesn’t dodge. In this interview, ActionSA leader lays out a blunt 2026 local election strategy: why six MPs are “boxing like sixty,” how Tshwane is delivering under Mayor Moyo with a fortified back-office, and why Johannesburg is rotten from loan binges to executive pay hike when coalitions reward the wrong actors. He drills into KPIs, firings for non-performance, and the “Green Umbrella” plan to absorb smaller parties instead of bleeding resources across unwinnable wards. Expect straight talk on Helen Zille’s surprise Joburg bid (and why he calls it an insult to DA structures), DA & ANC cooperation, and the non-negotiables ActionSA will enforce in any coalition it leads.

Looking ahead, Mashaba names the metros where ActionSA intends to be the senior partner and explains why they’ll announce mayoral candidates well before voting day. He contrasts functioning coalitions (Tshwane) with dysfunction (Joburg), argues that voters will punish puppet parties and complacent incumbents alike, and hints at a high-profile crime-fighter as a mayoral pick to break criminal syndicates with state power behind the office. If you want spin, don’t press play. If you want the plan numbers, discipline, and where the bodies are buried this is the briefing. Join the movement for a better South Africa.

Book for our Full Day Seminar Now at https://www.sona.co.za/index.php/events/

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War, politics, and propaganda collide. South African journalist Rolene Marks, reporting from Israel, joins State of the Nation to reveal what daily life looks like in a nation at war — sirens, shelters, and constant fear. She breaks down how the October 7 attacks unfolded, why Netanyahu’s government is under pressure, and how South Africa’s case at the ICJ has shaken relations across the Middle East. A direct, unfiltered view from inside the conflict.

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We are excited to invite you to our one-day summit on 13 November, featuring some of your favorite speakers: Prince Mashele, Dawie Roodt, Mandisa Mashego, Dr. Frans Cronje and more. Don’t miss it.

This week’s episode takes a hard look at where South Africa stands today. We are witnessing State Capture 2.0 far worse than the days of Jacob Zuma and the Guptas. The new syndicates are ruthless, stealing not just from SOEs but from hospitals and schools, showing zero morality.

Evidence is surfacing at the Madlanga Commission, but already there’s a fightback: prosecutors resigning, generals “too sick” to testify, and even the shocking death of former minister Nathi Mthethwa in Paris. Meanwhile, political parties remain silent, opposition leaders do nothing, and syndicates grow stronger.

We explore whether South Africa is on the brink of becoming a gangster state like Colombia or Haiti, and what ordinary citizens must do to fight back

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South Africa’s “shadow state” is real and it’s bleeding our hospitals dry. Investigative journalist and author Jeff Wicks joins State of the Nation to unpack how syndicates captured sub-R500k RFQs, siphoned billions from facilities like Tembisa Hospital, and why whistleblower Babita Deokaran was assassinated after freezing suspect payments. We explore the SIU’s findings, Hawks failures (from unexamined devices to freed suspects), political cover, the crossover with violent organized crime, and what must change after the Madlanga Commission.

What you’ll learn
1. How low-value tenders evade scrutiny at scale
2. The enabler ecosystem lawyers, car dealers, accountants
3. Named networks, assets, and where the money lands
4. Why whistleblowers are punished and how to protect them
5. Systemic risks if this model scales under NHI

If you care about healthcare, accountability, and justice for Babita Deokaran, this conversation is essential.

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Welcome to State of the Nation Business, proudly brought to you by Corion Capital.

This week, David Bacher unpacks whether the markets are being conducted by a maestro or if there’s mischief behind the harmony.

Topics we cover:

1. SA shares surge nearly 9% one of the best performers globally.
2. Is it time to learn Mandolin? Why China is back on the radar.
3. The danger of US mega cap tech valuations at stratospheric levels.
4. South African banks like Absa offering 9.5% dividend yields real value?
5. Gold & platinum: a boost for investors but less impact on SA jobs & GDP.
6. SARB’s balancing act: inflation vs. growth, rates vs. stimulus

Join the movement for a better South Africa.
Don’t just complain get involved, share this conversation, and subscribe for more State of the Nation insights.

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For decades, the language of revolution inspired courage and gave us freedom. But today, permanent revolution has become a prison trapping millions of South Africans in poverty, unemployment, and broken systems.

In this State of the Nation weekly update, we argue why the revolution must end and why reconstruction must begin. South Africa doesn’t need slogans, it needs jobs, working schools, safe communities, electricity, water, and real opportunity.

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South Africa has talent, capital markets and great companies so why are we stuck below 1% growth? Rob Rose (founder/editor of Currency News, ex-Financial Mail) joins Mike to strip away spin and map a practical path back to growth. We dig into mixed policy signals that repel investment, how BEE has actually operated in practice, the new employment-equity quotas vs real skills, de-industrialization (steel, autos, ports, power), mining rules that punish exploration risk, and the Starlink licensing own goal. We also zoom out: US–SA trade tensions and tariffs, why China won’t “save” us, BRICS vs the dollar, global debt and what sovereign defaults teach us about credibility. Then we get solutions: scrap counterproductive quotas, allow equity-equivalence, clean up municipal basics, fix mining/spectrum rules, and compete relentlessly for capital. A small slice of global flows would transform SA; here’s how to win it.

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Sponsor (Pace Car Rental + subscribe call)
01:08 – Why SA growth feels “stuck” despite real strengths
04:12 – Mixed signals to investors: Mantashe vs “open for business”
07:05 – Generations that have never seen real growth
09:02 – Jobs vs meaning: why policy talks past aspiration
11:10 – BEE in practice: who benefited and how it hurt meritocracy
15:18 – Employment-equity quotas vs skills reality (and growth)
18:44 – Foreign investors want returns, not sentiment
20:36 – Starlink & licensing: case study in self-sabotage
23:15 – US–SA trade friction, tariffs & non-tariff barriers
26:48 – De-industrialisation: power, ports, steel (ArcelorMittal) risks
30:22 – Mining policy & exploration: 100% risk, 74% upside?
33:41 – Municipal collapse as a growth bottleneck
36:09 – China, BRICS & the dollar: why Beijing won’t “save” SA
40:25 – Global debt, inflation & why defaults crater credibility
43:18 – Who’s owed? Bonds, banks & your pension exposure
45:42 – Low-hanging reforms that move GDP fast
50:03 – Local elections & policy reality checks ahead
53:10 – Opportunity cost: how little SA needs from global flows
56:02 – Closing: solutions, optimism & CTA (subscribe + Pace code SONA)

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This week, Mike asks a crucial question, How many more Lt. General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazis are out there in our public service? The Madlanga Commission may mark a turning point not driven by media exposés or public pressure, but by public servants themselves standing up to say “enough.”

Mike unpacks why this commission feels different, why Mkhwanazi’s courage matters, and what it could mean for South Africa’s future. He reflects on two decades of normalized corruption, the silence of party-first officials, and why this moment might finally unleash a wave of accountability across the state.

We also explore what a real cleanup would require: breaking liberation-movement thinking, professionalizing government, forcing parties to hold real internal democracy, and voting out local failures. With Helen Zille’s mayoral run reigniting the debate over delivery versus ideology, and the next local government elections just a year away, this could be the start of a domino effect across the country.

This is a call to action to find and support the “next Mkhwanazis,” to honor whistleblowers like Babita Deokaran, and to demand prosecutors, judges, and politicians finally do their jobs. South Africa still has hope but only if we back those who are willing to stand up.

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Julius Malema is one of South Africa’s most talked-about politicians. But behind the fiery speeches and radical politics lies a complex web of business dealings, scandals, and unanswered questions.

In this State of the Nation interview, journalist and author Micah Reddy discusses his explosive book “Malema, Money, Power, Patronage” (co-authored with Pauli van Wyk). We unpack:
1. How Malema rose from poverty to wealth.
2. The questionable tenders in Limpopo and On Point Engineering.
3. The VBS Bank scandal and its victims.
4. Why SARS, the Hawks, and the NPA have failed to hold him accountable.
5. How Malema wields influence far beyond his party’s size.
6. The dangers of coalition politics in South Africa.

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Water Sponsored by Manzi Water
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Helen Zille has officially been announced as the Democratic Alliance’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg and the political battle is about to get intense.

In this weekly update :
1. Helen Zille’s Big Gamble Why her candidacy could be a game-changer for Johannesburg.
2. ANC vs DA Showdown How the ANC will fight to keep control of the city and why the DA is better organized this time.
3. Coalition Chaos & ActionSA How Herman Mashaba’s party and smaller coalition partners could shape the outcome.
4. Why This Election Matters This could be the moment South Africans shift from race politics to delivery politics.

We break down the numbers, the history, and the stakes and explain why this Joburg mayoral race could change South African politics forever.

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This Episode is Sponsored by Corion Capital
https://www.corion.co.za

Is the US dollar still the world’s unshakable safe haven or has it slipped from “king” to court jester? Mike sits down with Corion Capital’s Head of Asset Allocation, Simon de Plooy, to unpack the dollar’s sharp slide this year, why the rand has been surprisingly steady, and what US tariff shocks could mean for South Africa’s jobs and markets.

What we cover:
1. How the dollar dominates trade, reserves & global indices and why it’s weakening now
2. Fed cuts, a softer US labour market, and the politics vs. policy debate
3. Why the rand has held its ground vs the dollar over 3 years (and what most people missed)
4. Gold, crypto, BRICS: real alternatives or just noise?
5. Tariffs 101 who really pays, and the ripple effects for SA exports
6. Portfolio moves: diversifying currencies, trimming USD, and why SA assets look cheap

Global investor and C5 Capital CEO, Andre Pienaar, joins State of the Nation to set the record straight on the lawsuit making headlines and to share his insights on South Africa’s strained relationship with the US, the ANC’s disastrous foreign policy, and what it will take to avoid targeted sanctions.

We cover:

1. The real story behind the lawsuit against Andre Pienaar
2. Why South Africa’s relationship with the US is at risk
3. The ANC’s embassy vacuum in Washington and poor foreign policy decisions
4. The ICJ case against Israel and its consequences
5. South Africa’s failure to tackle organized crime
6. How sanctions could devastate the economy and how to prevent them

This is a must watch conversation for anyone who cares about South Africa’s economic future, international standing, and security.


Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Why Andre Pienaar is in the News
02:15 – The Lawsuit: Defamation Case and Amazon/Oracle Background
05:40 – Media Attacks: “Private Intelligence Operative” Claims
07:05 – Andre’s Early Life & South African Roots
10:00 – Working with Nelson Mandela & Founding the Scorpions
13:40 – Building G3 and C5 Capital: “Mission Capital” Not Just Venture Capital
16:20 – Rebuilding SA–US Relations: Why This Matters for Our Economy
20:10 – ANC’s Embassy Vacuum in Washington & Foreign Policy Failures
23:50 – Delegations to Washington: What They Actually Say About SA
27:15 – Risk of Targeted Sanctions Against ANC Leaders
30:45 – The Case Against Israel & Why It’s “Meritless”
34:10 – South Africa’s Crime Crisis vs. Foreign Policy Priorities
37:00 – Lessons from Trump’s National Security Strategy
40:00 – What Ramaphosa Should Do: Put SA First
43:15 – How to Avoid Sanctions & Reset the Relationship with the US
46:30 – Historical Perspective: US Role in Ending Apartheid
49:10 – Mandela’s Relationship with America & Why It Mattered
52:00 – Why SA’s Foreign Policy Is Alienating Its Best Allies
55:30 – Closing Thoughts: Rebuilding Alliances & Putting SA First
57:15 – Outro & Call to Action

To donate to help keep The State of the Nation going, click here:
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The Mid Langa Commission has finally kicked off — and it’s already dropping bombshells.

In this episode, we unpack the explosive testimony from General Mkhwanazi, including:
1. How the Political Killings Task Team was disbanded and why it matters
2. Crime bosses Kat Matlala & Kati Malefic allegedly getting police protection, blue lights & municipal cars
3. The alleged involvement (or negligence) of top political leaders
4. Why President Cyril Ramaphosa and his two Police Ministers will have to answer tough questions
5. The role of whistleblowers, leaked files, and MPs who exposed confidential information
6. Alarming claims about compromised officials, rogue cops, and judges releasing assassins on bail

We also connect this to the assassination of Babita Deokaran and the Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal and explain why this commission could be the final blow to ANC credibility if swept under the rug.

Should Ramaphosa testify publicly? Do you think this will lead to real arrests or be buried like past commissions? Tell us in the comments.

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South Africa’s GNU promised renewal then the budget vote exposed who really holds the cards. We unpack the ANC DA power struggle, the flailing “national dialogue” burning hundreds of millions, commissions that dodge prosecutions, and why investors (and South Africans) have lost patience. Most of this can still be fixed if we professionalise the state and unblock growth basics now.

In this episode
1. The budget vote as leverage (and what it revealed)
2. Why the “national dialogue” became political theatre
3. Crime–politics nexus: inquiries vs. actual prosecutions
4. Tourism + arts as missed growth engines
5. Investment drought: ideology, red tape, zero follow-through
6. The NDP’s “capable state”: still the shortest path to progress

Question for you
What’s the ONE action the GNU must take in the next 90 days to restore trust fix policing leadership, publish a lean budget framework, scrap the dialogue spend, or something else? Tell us below.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has openly admitted that the DA runs municipalities better than the ANC a shocking confession that signals panic inside Luthuli House. In this episode, we unpack what this means for the ANC, the looming local government elections, and the possibility of an early general election in 2027.

We cover:
1. Ramaphosa’s surprising admission and its political fallout
2. The ANC’s desperate call to “stop cooking the books”
3. Why service delivery failures are costing votes
4. The risk of mass looting before power slips away
5. Whether Ramaphosa could be recalled by his own party
6. What this means for opposition parties and the GNU

South Africa is heading for change faster than many think. Grab some popcorn, subscribe, and watch the implosion unfold.

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Don’t forget to subscribe for more political insight

In this deep-dive conversation with entrepreneur, author, and strategist Daniel Priestley, we break down the principles behind building a scalable, modern business — even in a tough economy like South Africa’s.

What you’ll learn:

-Why entrepreneurship is more accessible (and necessary) than ever
-The “0–30 people, $0–$5M” startup phase every founder goes through
-Lifestyle business vs. hyper-growth business — and why stopping at $1M revenue might be the dream
-How to build demand before launching your product (the waiting list strategy)
-Why personal brands beat business brands 20:1 on social media
-Turning followers into paying customers — community-first entrepreneurship
-The boomer business takeover opportunity: financing your way into a proven business
-Avoiding autopilot living & creating space for visionary thinking
-Why recurring revenue, a strong team, and proprietary assets are the keys to a multi-million dollar exit
-The mindset shift from being the best at everything to hiring people better than you

If you’re serious about building wealth, scaling a business, and eventually selling it for life-changing money — this episode is for you.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction & Guest Welcome
01:30 Entrepreneurship in the Digital Age
04:10 Lifestyle Business & Freedom
06:30 Building Demand First
09:10 The New Business Model
12:00 Mindset Shift & Future of Work
15:00 Creating Demand & The Waiting List Principle
20:30 Capital is No Longer the Main Barrier
23:00 Power of Personal Brand & Community-First Businesses
26:00 Entrepreneurship as a Team Sport
29:00 Becoming a Key Person of Influence
33:00 Opportunity in Boomer Businesses
36:00 Energy & Creativity
38:00 Leveraging Global Time Zones & Arbitrage
41:00 Scorecards & Signal Collection
45:00 Building for Exit & Wealth Creation
48:00 Entrepreneurial Traits & Mindset
52:00 Final Lessons & Call to Action

Like & Subscribe for more powerful conversations that help entrepreneurs grow and win.
#DanielPriestley #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Oversubscribed #KeyPersonOfInfluence #Startups #PersonalBrand #WaitingListStrategy #ScoreApp #StateOfTheNation

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Investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh joins State of the Nation to unpack the IDT oxygen plant scandal, how a cash bribe was offered to silence his reporting, why state capture never really ended, and what it will take to fix South Africa’s criminal justice system. We also dig into the wave of hits on whistleblowers/professionals, the futility of endless commissions of inquiry, and the shrinking capacity of newsrooms to do high-stakes investigations.

In this episode:
1. How the IDT oxygen-plant project went off the rails and why it mattered
2. The recorded bribe attempt (a bag stuffed with R200 notes)
3. Hawks/NPA capacity vs. excuses; why strong prosecutions are still rare
4. Assassinations, intimidation, and capture inside law-enforcement
5. Commissions vs. action: what should happen now
6. Can SA still be fixed? Pieter-Louis’s (surprising) optimism
7. Media economics, bot campaigns, and the cost of real investigations

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Produced by Stream In Studios – https://www.streamin.co.za
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Timestamps / Chapters

00:02 – Opening: Why corruption is still everywhere
00:27 – Guest intro: Pieter-Louis Myburgh
00:46 – Sponsor: Pace Car Rental (code SONA)
01:06 – Setting the table: From Zuma/Guptas to “outsourced” corruption
01:53 – State capture was never just the Guptas
03:17 – New actors, same playbook: health & other departments
04:02 – Zondo era: the “cleansing moment” we missed
04:30 – Health sector capture & everyday consequences
05:01 – Tip-offs overwhelm: only 10% can be pursued
06:00 – Criminal syndicates & the justice cluster
06:17 – Deep dive: IDT oxygen-plant investigation
07:26 – What IDT is and how the contract went wrong
08:25 – Following the property trail to Waterfall
09:17 – “We can make life better for you”: the bribe approaches begin
10:26 – Spin & smears: media pushback and retractions
11:51 – Friendly coverage and the PR machine
12:39 – “Paid for work not done”: where the money went
13:04 – The bag of cash on the table
13:30 – Documenting the bribe: photos, counting, airtight evidence
15:16 – Who was in the room & why it matters
16:14 – Why bribe a journalist, not a cop? (And why that’s scarier)
17:03 – Are pockets of law enforcement already captured?
17:12 – So what happened next? Status of the players & probes
18:33 – Beyond the bribe: EPWP/IDT labour issues & property flows
19:10 – Daily Maverick gathering: Hawks leadership under fire
20:23 – “Journalists have it easy”? Pieter-Louis responds
21:30 – Evidence standards in real investigations
23:00 – Is our legal bar impossibly high? Or are cases too weak?
24:10 – What winning prosecutions should look like
25:04 – Assassinations & fear: who’s really behind the hits?
26:00 – The KZN allegations & Ramaphosa’s new inquiry
26:54 – We don’t need another commission — we need action
27:47 – Zondo’s own frustration: three years on
28:31 – Investigate now, don’t “study” forever
28:56 – The commission industry problem
30:04 – Was Zondo still worth it? Public awakening vs. zero follow-througH
31:14 – Politics: why failed inquiries cost the ANC votes
31:37 – Can SA still be fixed? The case for optimism
32:31 – Johannesburg as a microcosm — how to turn the ship
33:12 – A national call-up: talent, duty, and belief in SA
33:58 – Media capture, shrinking newsrooms, and ethics under pressure
35:23 – The “real” offer: ongoing access in exchange for silence
36:00 – Why there are so few forensic-grade reporters
37:10 – Platforms vs. publishers: who funds journalism?
38:24 – Why investigative work is costly — but essential
38:46 – Global trends: narrative control and authoritarian drift
39:56 – Ad-market shifts & what it means for watchdog reporting
40:15 – Closing thanks & future episodes
40:36 – Supporters & partners shout-out
41:02 – Production plug: Stream IN Studios corporate video work

Sri Lanka. Bangladesh. Nepal. Each saw youth-driven protests ignite over corruption, inequality, nepotism and mass unemployment and each ended with governments collapsing. In this week’s State of the Nation update, we ask could South Africa be really next?

We break down:
1. The common fuse: endemic corruption + jobless youth + failing services
2. How Bangladesh’s “merit for insiders only” and Sri Lanka’s economic collapse mirror SA
3. Nepal’s Gen-Z revolt and why water outages could be SA’s trigger
4. Why anger is likely to target government failure, not race
5. What must change now: fix the economy, restore services, end cadre deployment

If you care about South Africa’s stability and future, this is essential context.
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Produced by Stream In Studios – https://www.streamin.co.za
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South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) was supposed to normalize our democracy but has it delivered? In this discussion.

We unpack:
1. How the ANC–DA bilateral shaped the GNU
2. Why key portfolios like foreign policy & economic policy remain ANC-controlled
3. The missed opportunity of a real national dialogue
4. The risk of ANC regaining a majority in 2026
5. How the US–SA relationship turned into a “diplomatic catastrophe”
6. Why coalition humility is essential for 2026 local elections
7. How decentralisation could unlock better governance

Plus: audience Q&A on common values, nation-building, and mobilising the black middle class. This is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the stakes ahead of next year’s local elections and what it will take to finally sweep away the ANC and build a better South Africa.

Join the movement for a better South Africa.
Don’t just complain — get involved, share this conversation, and subscribe for more State of the Nation insights.
Follow @sonacoza on TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook
Produced by Stream In Studios – https://www.streamin.co.za
Don’t forget to subscribe for more political insight

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