The Burning Platform

Welcome to this special episode of Burning Platform - in the last two weeks we’ve held two events hosted by Justice Malala and Penuel the Black Pen, with leaders from political parties who accepted the invitation to come and talk about 100 Days of GNU - how are we doing South Africa? What are the burning issues? These are important conversations and we decided it was well-worth including as part of the Burning Platform series. Please join the conversation by leaving your thoughts in the comments section, and make sure you subscribe to Podcast Party Youtube channel - Podcast party SA - so you get notifications and you don’t miss a thing! And now….100 Days of GNU Part 2

Welcome to this special episode of Burning Platform - in the last two weeks we’ve held two events hosted by Justice Malala and Penuel the Black Pen, with leaders from political parties who accepted the invitation to come and talk about 100 Days of GNU - how are we doing South Africa? What are the burning issues? These are important conversations and we decided it was well-worth including as part of the Burning Platform series. Please join the conversation by leaving your thoughts in the comments section, and make sure you subscribe to Podcast Party Youtube channel - Podcast party SA - so you get notifications and you don’t miss a thing! And now….100 Days of GNU…….

How is South Africa viewed by the world? Countries typically have two powers, hard power and soft power. Gareth and Phumi are joined by advocate for a brand-led African revolution and marketer, Thebe Ikalafeng. Looking at the brand that is South Africa and how the world views and interacts with brand South Africa.

Where are the buoys in the ocean of South African politics? With more than a 100 days into the GNU, it could be said that South Africa has more questions than answers. To help Gareth and Phumi find the answers is, Associate Professor, School of Governance at the University of the Witwatersrand and founder and Executive Chair of Democracy Works Foundation, Prof. William Gumede. Getting to the bottom of recent political happenings.

What should we make of the political movements? The removal of Cilliers Brink has caused quite a few ripples in the political landscape, Mike sham joins the show to give his analysis. Gareth and Phumi would also like to know what’s brewing inside the Democratic Alliance. Mike Sham also discusses whether John Steenhuisen is becoming more of a liability than an asset.

After 100 days of GNU, are we headed in the right direction? South African politics has been a hive of activity in recent times, from questionable hiring practices to political floor crossing. Joining Gareth and Phumi to give an insider's view, Chairperson of the Federal Council of the Democratic Alliance, Helen Zille. Getting insight into news headlines is the order of the day.

Classically-liberal South African YouTuber Sihle Ngobese AKA Big Daddy Liberty takes a hot seat on The Burning Platform to give his take on some of the week's political stories and interrogate whether the Government of National Unity (GNU) is the solution to the issues South Africa currently faces.

What does America look like after the elections? With Gareth in Bulgaria, Phumi is joined by Jack Motlanthe as co-host as we turn our attention to the elections in the US. To add some perspective, Associate Editor at the Daily Maverick, J Brooks Spector and Durban based District Prosecutor, Treasure Ntimane.

What does the future hold for party members who change allegiances? After recently leaving the party she founded, Colleen Makhubele joins Gareth and Phumi, as well as regular contributor Kanthan Pillay in studio. The shockwaves of her departure from SARA to join the MK can still be felt as South Africans grapple with the ever changing political landscape. The team question Colleen to understand the thinking behind the move and what the future holds.

What exactly is a political commentator and what qualifies a person to be one? Gareth and Phumi are joined by a man who wears many hats, who considers himself an 'accidental political commentator' even though he is a lot more than that. Solly Moeng is a renowned outspoken political commentator, columnist, communications and brand strategist. He brings his thoughts and opinions on the political happenings in South Africa.

What does it mean to be a minister in the GNU? With the olympics behind us and life settling back to normal, Gareth and Phumi are joined by firebrand minister of sports, arts and culture, Mr Gayton Mckenzie. On the table for discussion is how Mr McKenzie has found his feet after 97 days since the general elections, his ministry and much more, as we get an insider's view on the Government of National Unity.

Has journalism gone off the rails? Phumi and Gareth mull over the recent political happenings in South Africa after a busy news week. They are then joined by journalist and founder of Biznews.com, Alec Hogg, as he lends his voice and know how to the sometimes chaotic South African political and financial landscape.

What options do you have in conflict? Phumi is back after a two week hiatus and she joins Gareth as they jump into the contentious issues shaping our communities. From the threat of conflict in our cities, beyond the 2021 KZN unrest, to the growing challenges of migration and xenophobia. Conflict resolution specialist and author, Andre Vlok, lends his voice and expertise to the show.

What should South Africans prioritise for genuine progress? Gareth Cliff is back in studio and is joined by Penuel Mlotshwa (The Black Pen) to explore the landscape of South Africa's politics. The conversation tackles multiple topics, from the ambitious R3.8 billion project by Solidarity to the crucial steps needed to enhance our Olympic performance. Also up for discussion is what South Africans should prioritise and how we can address the ongoing border crisis.

How do we deepen our understanding of world politics? With all the news developments taking place in South African politics, Gareth is in studio and joined by opinionated contributors Kanthan Pillay and Jonathon Witt. Deconstructing the often complex world of politics, is what's on the menu.

Having a hard time making sense of SA's political landscape? In this episode, Mandy Wiener joins Gareth and Phumi to shed light on South Africa's political environment. Through expert analysis and thoughtful commentary, Mandy discusses the key players, policies, and events that are currently shaping the nation's political discourse.

Where does America go from here after such tumultuous political happenings? A gunman opened fire on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania… President Joe Biden has more flubs on-stage… the Republican National Convention is currently underway with many developments… and the list goes on! The Guardian's Washington DC bureau chief, David Smith, joins Gareth and Phumi to weigh in, live and on-the-ground in the US.

So South Africa, what lies ahead? To help answer this question and more, Gareth and Phumi are joined by political strategist, pollster, and commentator, Gareth van Onselen. They discuss the potential political, social, and economic impacts and what this historic shift means for the future of the nation.

It's been a big week in South African and international politics! Gareth and Phumi talk about the Cabinet announcements and the latest coming out of GNU with political observer Xavier Bapoo: and then Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Henry Jackson Society, Alan Mendoza, joins us live from London to give key insights on the UK's election, what's happening in Europe and how the world views South Africa at this time.

What does the future hold? Gareth and Phumi are joined by the ever insightful contributor Kanthan Pillay as they talk to futurist ,economist and business trends analyst Bronwyn Williams of Flux Trends. Let's take a look at the future.

Is South Africa ready for a political remix? Phumi is back to join Gareth for another episode of the Burning Platform. They are joined by Gabriel Crouse from IRR (Institute of Race Relations) and David Ansara from FMF(Free Market Foundation), to discuss South Africa's new dispensation.

With Phumi unfortunately out sick, Gareth is joined contributor Kanthan Pillay. They have a chat with South Africa's Shadow Minister of Justice, Glynnis Breytenbach. This episode offers a deep dive into the political landscape and potential reforms that could shape South Africa's future.

With the official announcement of this year's election results having been made public, the country now faces the uncharted territory of the possibility of coalition government. Gareth and Phumi are joined by economist and political analyst, Moeletsi Mbeki to help navigate these choppy political waters.

Join Gareth Cliff and Phumi Mashigo a day after the elections for a 2- special edition of the Burning Platform. First - Phumi reports back on her fact-finding trip to Israel last week and chats to David Benjamin - consultant on international law, the law of armed conflict and counter-terrorism. Then as the results election results start trickling in, Kanthan Pillay joined the conversation #VotingDay with comments from Jack Motlanthe and Bafana Modise who were on the ground in their respective areas.

A week away from this year's election, we bring you a special edition of the Burning Platform with two guests who can help to make the numbers make sense for us. Wayne Sussman - an independent elections analyst, known as ‘the Elections Geek’, and we spoke to him not so long ago on Democracy 101 and The Burning Platform. Dawie Scholtz, who is joining us from Dubai, is also an independent elections analyst, who produces election results projections and detailed results analysis.

How serious should we take independent candidates? Do they even stand a real chance of making it into parliament? Gareth and Phumi dig into to the realities faced by independent candidates in the lead to this year's elections. Joining them for a quick chat is Anele Mda, she expands on the discussion as from her vantage point as someone who is running as an independent candidate. The Burning Platform

Is the dream of one South Africa fools gold? Leader of Build One South Africa (BOSA) Mmusi Maimane joins Gareth and Phumi for an in studio conversation. They take a look at Mmusi's political history and delve into the ideas he has for the country moving forward. Phumi also grills Mmusi on coalitions, will they work? Listen here to find out more. The Burning Platform

What is the job of a good opposition party? Gareth and Phumi are joined by DA Leader John Steenhuisen. The identity of the party was up for discussion including the hot button issue of coalition governments. John also attempts to dispel a few misconceptions about the Democratic Alliance. The Burning Platform

Are you wasting your vote by voting for smaller parties? Freedom Front Plus leader and MP Dr. Pieter Groenewald joins Gareth and Phumi to discuss the nuances of electoral process. Also on the table for discussion is the seemingly inevitable possibility of coalition. The Burning Platform

What happens to a party that's been on the ballot since 1994? Are they even still relevent? Mkhuleko Hlengwa from the IFP joins the team to not only outline his manifesto, but also to talk about the party and their approach to creating a “new normal” in South Africa. Phumi also questions Mkhuleko on the hotly debated Multi-Party Charter. The Burning Platform

GOOD Secretary-General, Brett Herron speaks on the potential economic reform, if elected. Kanthan grills him on GOOD’s justice pillars, and their plan for jobs. The conversation gets heated when the Green Economy comes up. The Burning Platform

Leader of the ACDP, Rev. Kenneth Meshoe joins the show to discuss his manifesto. Phumi questions Kenneth on his ability to still lead the party, after being its leader since its inception. And Kenneth lays down his vision for a “successful, prosperous South African future”. The Burning Platform

Executive President of SARA, Colleen Makhubele sits down with Gareth Cliff and Phumi Mashigo ahead of the 2024 National Elections. Colleen addresses her COPE termination, outlines her impact as the Speaker of Johannesburg, and lays down her vision for a better South Africa in SARA’s eyes. The Burning Platform

UDM Leader Bantu Holomisa joins the Burning Platform to outline the manifesto for his party. Bantu also speaks on the role the state has to play in bettering the lives of South Africans. Gareth and Kanthan question Bantu on the potential for a coalition government, and how that could impact the country. The Burning Platform

ActionSA leader, Herman Mashaba is on the Burning Platform today to lay down his manifesto for a “better South Africa” under his party. Things get heated when Kanthan and Phumi question him about coalition politics, and involvement from the DA. And Gareth asks how Herman plans to deal with foreigners and immigrants coming into South Africa.

Roger Jardine joins Gareth Cliff, Phumi Mashigo, and Kanthan Pillay this week. Together they touch on the controversial NHI bill, why the Tintswalos of South Africa should vote, and the importance of youth in elections and politics. Roger lays down some of his manifesto for his party, Change Starts Now. The Burning Platform

Neil De Beer of the UIM (United Independent Movement) steps in the ring with Gareth and Phumi to have his say about the upcoming elections. We get some inside info from Neil, coming from an intelligence background - as well as being an advisor to President Nelson Mandela. Neil also launches his manifesto live on the show. And what are you expecting from the SONA this evening? The Burning Platform

Gayton McKenzie has been making headlines in recent weeks, after taking some border issues and foreign policy into his own hands. He joins Gareth and Phumi to discuss the future of South Africa. They touch on Gayton’s ideologies of what South Africa could be if managed correctly by the right people, the PA’s new manifesto, as well as his stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, the land issue, and equal race treatment. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Kanthan Pillay joins Gareth Cliff and Phumi Mashigo this week. Gareth kicks off with a conspiracy theory sent in a from a listener regarding the MK Party and the ANC... but is Phumi buying into it? They dive into American and African politics - specifically, which African Leader was the best in office over the years, as well as touching on SA's upcoming national election, and which party has grabbed the attention of the public. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Kanthan Pillay and Koketso Resane join Gareth Cliff and Phumi Mashigo for a lengthy discussion about some recent events in SA politics. The lengthy ballot paper holding a record amount of parties in South African history, the ANC’s statement regarding the Western Cape, and former Israeli ambassador to South Africa, Arthur Lenk joins in live from Israel to give us a status update on the ground, and answer some questions from the team. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Advocate Mark Oppenheimer joins Gareth Cliff to discuss South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. WARNING: Disturbing content. NOTE: Adv. Mark Oppenheimer incorrectly makes reference to India instead of Pakistan in this interview - apologies for the error. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Gareth and Phumi are joined by Roman Cabanac of Morning Shot for the first Burning Platform of 2024. Roman has a very strong set of opinions about South Africa’s leadership, and why it is still the best country to live in. Together the team break down the unprotected borders issue, Jacob Zuma and the MK Party, Cape independence, and South Africa’s case at the ICJ later today. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Gareth and Phumi are joined by Adil Nchabeleng, an energy expert and former corporate finance buff, to discuss South Africa’s grid woes - as well as the current state of government. Is South Africa a ticking time bomb of an Arab Spring… or will 2024 bring enough change to create stability in our country? The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Phumlani Majozi joins the show to discuss some of the ideas from his new book. He emphasizes the need to eject the ANC from power in order to restore South Africa, acknowledging the previous leaders of the past. Phumlani also gets into the idea of a multi-party solution, and the plan moving forward. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Kanthan Pillay launches his new book, 'How to Fix South Africa: An Owner's Manual' with a live audience at a special CliffCentral event. Along with Gareth Cliff and Phumi Mashigo, he touches on social grants, taxation, the NHI and more. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Where do SA political parties get their funding, and how is South Africa’s judicial system suffering with backdated dockets that aren’t being solved? Marecia Damons and Daniel Steyn, both award-winning journalists at GroundUp, have put out a new book breaking down the Thabo Bester story, as they were the first to break the story of him faking his death. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Chris Pappas is the Premier candidate on the DA’s list for KZN next year. Doing an already excellent job in the uMngeni local municipality, could premiership soon be a reality for Mr Pappas? Gareth and Phumi do a deep dive with Chris on the current state of government, his vision for KZN, and how people can change their futures by voting. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Solly Moeng is frustrated with the state of South African politics and is calling on all citizens to take control. Phumi notices a lack of will to win in the elections, and Gareth fires back with some ideas for corrupt politicians. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Eliav Belotsercovsky - the Israeli Ambassador of South Africa - joins the team to discuss the current situation in Israel, the ignorance of South African media, as well as the dispute of the international communications with South Africa in future. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Jasmine Opperman is qualified as a risk analyst and has major experience in South African and international intelligence. She discusses the larger picture of possible threats in Southern Africa, before getting into the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Ivor Chipkin is the Co-Founder and Director of the New South Institute. He joins Gareth and Phumi this week to discuss the Public Service Amendment Bill, government reform, questioning politicians and more. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Leeto Nthoba breaks down mining unions and the current ‘hostage situation’ at the GoldOne mine. Bakh’abantu plays devil’s advocate about business and the economy, while Phumi asks what political parties have to do to the bring the youth to the ballot boxes. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Bafana Modise and Kanthan Pillay join the panel and conversation gets heated after Kanthan has some strong opinions on the conflict from both sides. Bafana emphasises the argument government makes about supporting an anti-apartheid state, and Phumi believes the ANC is using this conflict as a distraction. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

In the beginning of South Africa’s democracy era, a world of vigilantism and dark organised crime was a real problem in the Western Cape. Mark Shaw - Director of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - tells his story about being part of this team in the early 2000s, as well as the state of policing in South Africa... particularly in the Western Cape. Ian Cameron, Director of Community Safety at Action Society, stops by to report back on his apology from Bheki Cele, as well as sharing his experience working with organised crime units and police in the Western Cape. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Leon Louw - a policy expert, author and speaker - joins the panel to discuss land and property ownership, and the unlawful woes that have carried over the last few generations. Phumi implodes after hearing about the Woolworths CEO’s profit margin, and Kanthan struggles to see the DA’s vision, launching Chris Pappas as the premier candidate for KZN. Gareth gets into some international news. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

In a crucial time when water (a basic amenity) is not being provided properly, we have to question why and what are the potential outcomes. Prominent hydrologist and environmental scientist, Prof. Anthony Turton, has some words about our current water and filtration system - and the lack of maintenance by the government. Gareth, Phumi, and Kanthan also get into some local and global headlines, including the name change of the most hated road in Johannesburg. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Dear South Africa founder, Rob Hutchinson joins the team to discuss the latest coming out of the Road Accident Fund, Pravin Gordhan’s new state-owned company, and the saga of the fake Dear SA scammer call centre. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Uncover the complexities of Tshwane's municipal workers’ strike, corruption issues, coalition dynamics, and the city's future with Mayor Cilliers Brink, as he joins Gareth and Phumi this week. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

The South African delegation recently visited Zim President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, after his re-election. A concerned Pan-Africanist, professional speaker, leadership expert, author and entrepreneur, Godfrey Madanhire, jumps on to give his perspective on Zimbabwe’s recent election, their BRICS request, and lots more on African and global politics. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Prof. JJ Tabane is in the house… ranting about how nothing is being done to hold politicians accountable. The Burning Platform heats up with talks of the moonshot pact, the electoral act, and the impact of BRICS on our national interest. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Col. Chris Wyatt is in town for the BRICS Summit and is reflecting on the partnership from a US standpoint. Kanthan Pillay shares thoughts on South Africa's impact on the BRICS building blocks, while Gareth and Phumi chime in on the US debate. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Gareth Cliff, Phumi Mashigo, and Kanthan Pillay are delighted to host the FF+ for the first time on The Burning Platform. Chief Whip, Dr Corne Mulder, sets the record straight on the FF+’s vision - as both an independent party and coalition partner. We also hear the latest coming out of the ‘Multi-Party Charter for South Africa’. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Anthea Jeffery has been looking into unemployment, infrastructure, EWC and the mining sector in her latest book, Countdown to Socialism. And Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis updates us on the latest coming out of the taxi strikes. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Cape Town mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis gives Gareth Cliff an update on the latest happenings with SANTACO. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Bakh’abantu has some bullets in his chamber, having been fired up after the EFF’s 10-year celebration. Ebrahim Harvey - former Cosatu trade unionist, and current political writer, analyst, and commentator - warns us not to rule Malema out just yet, after an impressive decade-long run in the South African political arena. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

The state of mining in South Africa has become questionable after recent discoveries of illegal mining throughout the country. Should this be legalised and taxed, or should SA continue to ban it? Bakh’abantu joins the panel to tackle the SABC, Malema’s EFF’s 10-year anniversary speech, and the ANC. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Mighti Jamie and the EFF’s Ntokozo Hlonyana join this week’s show to discuss the EFF’s 10-year anniversary. What are the party’s plans for the country, should they be successful in the next election? Plus their stance on EWC, nationalization, and more. NB: Unfortunately the internet went down for a few minutes during the show, and some of the discussion was not recorded - apologies for the frustration! The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

The team delves into the state of literacy in the country, government plots and how to deal with blue light brigades. Phumi and Kanthan get into a heated debate about mining and the economy. The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

The Burning Platform kicks off with Phumzile Mgcina, the newly elected Deputy President of the ANC Youth League, telling us about their new leadership and plans for the future. Gareth, Phumi and Kanthan get into the riots in France, as well as education equality. The Burning Platform

Dumo Denga is today’s featured guest, alongside Gareth Cliff and Phumi Mashigo. Together the team do a deep dive into some current affairs, that include race-based water licensing, a haunting NHI update from Dumo’s perspective, and Gareth’s take on the Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, after receiving an email from someone wanting to defend him. The Burning Platform

Paul Holden - an author with over 15 years experience in exposing corruption, with five bestselling books on South African and global politics - joins Phumi and Rams Mabote to talk about his new book, ‘Zondo at your Fingertips’. The team do a deep dive into the current state of the Zondo Commission, possible outcomes and speed bumps in the way at present. Phumi picks Rams’ brain for his perspective. The Burning Platform

Dr Jonathan Witt joins Gareth Cliff and Kanthan Pillay to discuss the latest bill passed by the ANC government, regarding National Health Insurance (NHI) in South Africa, putting private health and medical aids at risk of collapsing to State level. Councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku from the DA then joins to discuss the R81b budget for the City of Joburg. The Burning Platform

Leeto Nthoba updates the team on Witbank's water struggle, triggering a debate on water rights in South Africa, and the need for new voices in the political space. Plus, as we ponder the future of universities, Leeto shares some powerful words: "We are the surgical knives that cut out the cancer." The Burning Platform The Burning Platform

Justice Malala, founding co-host of The Burning Platform, is visiting South Africa with his new book titled, ‘The Plot to Save South Africa’. Gareth Cliff sits down with him to discuss some history about the Chris Hani era, both before and after his assassination - as well as some of South Africa’s current issues and possible solutions to get the country back to where it needs to be. The Burning Platform

South African writer and scholar Jonny Steinberg joins the show to talk about his new book on the relationship between Nelson and Winnie Mandela. Gareth, Phumi, and Kanthan comment on Jonny’s findings… and also bring up the latest scandals of the week, including Fikile Mbalula, Julius Malema, and Herman Mashaba. The Burning Platform

Phumlani Majozi steps up onto the Burning Platform alongside Gareth Cliff, Phumi Mashigo, and Kanthan Pillay to tackle a number of topics impacting South Africa today. BEE is on the chopping block, along with South Africa's power crisis and the recent Russian arms deal the country has been embroiled in, among other issues. The Burning Platform

The Burning Platform is joined by another representative of the ruling party. Nontembeko Boyce, Speaker of the KZN Legislature, gets into a conversation with Gareth, Phumi, and Kanthan about the vision that the ANC represents for KZN in the coming years, and why the ANC should still be the party to vote for. Do Kanthan and Phumi buy into this vision? Find out as things get heated! The Burning Platform

Controversial YouTuber, author, and podcaster - Penuel, The Black Pen stops by with a full agenda to discuss South African election reform, the broken judicial system, and meritocracy. Phumi is revved up with opinions… while Kanthan and Gareth debate the pros and cons of bribery and corruption within business ownership. The Burning Platform

Adv. Glynnis Breytenbach joins Gareth, Phumi and Kanthan for The Burning Platform, after being flavour of the week last week, unleashing her scathing attack on the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele and the board of G4S. The team discuss the future of justice in South Africa and pick Adv. Breytenbach’s brain on her view of prison breaks and the corruption surrounding them. The Burning Platform

Kanthan proposes a new ‘conspiracy theory’ surrounding state capture, but do you buy into it? Raf Gangat joins from Jerusalem to discuss international politics - he believes that Israel is an Apartheid state, based on some recent experiences - but does the team agree? The Burning Platform

Mmusi Maimane steps onto The Burning Platform to discuss some of his latest antics in the political space. Gareth is curious how BOSA functions in society, while Phumi asks Mmusi if he is not just the ‘stale bread’ politician building another party to try lead South Africa. Kanthan Pillay asks the ‘burning’ question… what is Mmusi’s stance on BEE in South Africa, and how does he define race? The Burning Platform

It's a historic moment in American politics, as no former president has ever been indicted. Joel Pollak, Senior Editor-at-Large for Breitbart News, joins The Gareth Cliff Show live to discuss the breaking news and provide insights into how the charges could impact Trump's political future, including his potential 2024 campaign. The Burning Platform

Writer and analyst at the Institute of Race Relations, Gabriel Crouse joins The Burning Platform this week to discuss Herman Mashaba's recent dig at the IRR, the Digital Misinformation Conference, as well as the ideal coalition that South Africa should be focusing on. The Burning Platform

The Burning Platform is joined by Helen Zille this week. She undergoes some grilling by Kanthan Pillay about the DA’s primary focus on South Africa’s political stage. Helen talks about her upcoming vote for Federal Council Chair, and the party’s vision going forward. The Burning Platform

Herman Mashaba joins the Burning Platform to discuss his points of view on the upcoming EFF ‘National Shutdown’ on Monday, and to respond to Julius Malema’s comments after being slammed at the EFF press conference yesterday. Ian Cameron shares his opinions on several topics, including how South Africa is becoming a mafia state, and how the SAPS have been captured in the process. The Burning Platform

Kanthan Pillay is itching to talk about the cabinet reshuffle. Ivo Vegter joins to throw in his 2 cents on the matter - slamming Cyril Ramaphosa as ‘Our feckless president and his bloated, self-serving cabinet’ in his latest article. Phumi talks about the business of politicking in South Africa, and how coalitions won’t work because of their lack of skill in this area. The Burning Platform

How serious should we take independent candidates? Do they even stand a real chance of making it into parliament? Gareth and Phumi dig into to the realities faced by independent candidates in the lead to this year's elections. Joining them for a quick chat is Anele Mda, she expands on the discussion as from her vantage point as someone who is running as an independent candidate.

“The Burning Platform” has been the long-time flagship current affairs feature on “The Gareth Cliff Show,” hosted by Gareth Cliff and Phumi Mashigo, and we’re proud to announce that it has now graduated to be a stand-alone podcast. As we reset with the new series exclusive to Podcast Party, regular contributor Kanthan Pillay joins Gareth and Phumi to reflect on the journey thus far and assess where we’re at as a country as we head towards the election later this month. The Burning Platform will continue to tackle the big news stories of the week and dissect current and global trends.

How well is the governing party holding up? In the first edition of the Burning Platform for the month of May, Gareth and Phumi are joined by ANC spokesperson, Lesego Makhubela. The three of them go back and forth about the governing parties flaws and strengths ahead of this year's elections.

Is the dream of one South Africa fools gold? Leader of Build One South Africa (BOSA) Mmusi Maimane joins Gareth and Phumi for an in studio conversation. They take a look at Mmusi's political history and delve into the ideas he has for the country moving forward. Phumi also grills Mmusi on coalitions, will they work? Listen here to find out more.

What is the job of a good opposition party? Gareth and Phumi are joined by DA Leader John Steenhuisen. The identity of the party was up for discussion including the hot button issue of coalition governments. John also attempts to dispel a few misconceptions about the Democratic Alliance.

Are you wasting your vote by voting for smaller parties? Freedom Front Plus leader and MP Dr. Pieter Groenewald joins Gareth and Phumi to discuss the nuances of electoral process. Also on the table for discussion is the seemingly inevitable possibility of coalition.

What happens to a party that's been on the ballot since 1994? Are they even still relevent? Mkhuleko Hlengwa from the IFP joins the team to not only outline his manifesto, but also to talk about the party and their approach to creating a “new normal” in South Africa. Phumi also questions Mkhuleko on the hotly debated Multi-Party Charter.

GOOD Secretary-General, Brett Herron speaks on the potential economic reform, if elected. Kanthan grills him on GOOD’s justice pillars, and their plan for jobs. The conversation gets heated when the Green Economy comes up.

Leader of the ACDP, Rev. Kenneth Meshoe joins the show to discuss his manifesto. Phumi questions Kenneth on his ability to still lead the party, after being its leader since its inception. And Kenneth lays down his vision for a “successful, prosperous South African future”.

Executive President of SARA, Colleen Makhubele sits down with Gareth Cliff and Phumi Mashigo ahead of the 2024 National Elections. Colleen addresses her COPE termination, outlines her impact as the Speaker of Johannesburg, and lays down her vision for a better South Africa in SARA’s eyes.

UDM Leader Bantu Holomisa joins the Burning Platform to outline the manifesto for his party. Bantu also speaks on the role the state has to play in bettering the lives of South Africans. Gareth and Kanthan question Bantu on the potential for a coalition government, and how that could impact the country.

ActionSA leader, Herman Mashaba is on the Burning Platform today to lay down his manifesto for a “better South Africa” under his party. Things get heated when Kanthan and Phumi question him about coalition politics, and involvement from the DA. And Gareth asks how Herman plans to deal with foreigners and immigrants coming into South Africa.

Roger Jardine joins Gareth Cliff, Phumi Mashigo, and Kanthan Pillay this week. Together they touch on the controversial NHI bill, why the Tintswalos of South Africa should vote, and the importance of youth in elections and politics. Roger lays down some of his manifesto for his party, Change Starts Now.