Investigative journalists Richard Poplak and Diana Neille set out on a road trip through post-uprising South Africa, in search of answers to help explain what is happening to the country’s democracy and, by extension, to many others around the world. They meet with two self-described community activists in Durban, who stepped in to the void created by a government that couldn’t cope, during the eight days of riots that followed former president Jacob Zuma’s incarceration in July, 2021. Then, they make their way up to the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg, to the birthplace of a presidential hopeful, whose story is representative of the devolution of South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress.

Featuring:

Zain Soosiwala, co-founder of eThekwini Secure 

Mohammed Ismail, senior member of eThekwini Secure

Songezo Zibi, author and co-founder of progressive think tank, the Rivonia Circle

Archive credits:

Channel 4 News / eNews Channel Africa / Africa News / CBC News: The National / SABC News / NBC News / CNBC / World Is One News / CNN / DW News / BBC News / Carte Blanche  /

KwaZulu-Natal is the diva of South African provinces, a place with a deep and complex history of political violence that has not abated, and one that has suffered a string of disasters, uprisings and climate catastrophes in recent years. One of its most famous sons is Dr Zwelini Lawrence Mkhize, a former uMkhonto we Sizwe militant, a doctor in a white coat and a prominent part of South Africa’s political elite, who has played a major role in shaping the past and present of this troubled province.

Featuring:

Dr Zweli Mkhize, former Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, former ANC Treasurer-General, former Minister of Health

Sibusiso “S’bu” Zikode, President of Abahlali BaseMjondolo 

Cyril Madlala, former head of communications for former KZN Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize

Chris Makhaye, freelance journalist and KZN correspondent

Archive credits:

News24 / CGTN Africa / Newzroom Afrika / eNews Channel Africa / SABC News / Associated Press / ABC News Australia / Reuters

Click here for a full transcript of the episode.

Investigative journalists Richard Poplak and Diana Neille continue their travels around KwaZulu-Natal. As they hear from those on the ground, and as they dig deeper into the history of the embattled province, and that of its notorious former leader, Dr Zweli Mkhize, they are drawn into the heart of Assassination Nation.

Featuring:

Dr Zweli Mkhize, former Premier of KwaZulu Natal, former ANC Treasurer-General, former Minister of Health

Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa

Sibusiso “S’bu” Zikode, President of Abahlali BaseMjondolo

Cyril Madlala, Communications consultant and former spokesperson for former KZN Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize

Chris Makhaye, freelance journalist and KZN correspondent

Neil Coleman, Co-Founder and Senior Policy Specialist at Institute For Economic Justice (IEJ) 

Andrew Feinstein, former ANC MP turned anti-corruption advocate, author and filmmaker

Quinn Slobodian, author, historian and the Marion Butler McLean Professor of the History of Ideas at Wellesley College

Zackie Achmat, activist and co-founder of the Treatment Action Campaign

Archive credits:

The Forge / Associated Press / SABC News / eNews Channel Africa / Periscope Film / World Peace Foundation / Journeyman Pictures / The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa

Click here for a full transcript of the episode.

In this bonus episode, Diana Neille and Richard Poplak give some context to their seven-point progression of how liberal democracies break down over time, referred to throughout the series. They’ve enlisted the help of struggle stalwart and former cabinet minister and ANC National Executive Committee member, Pallo Jordan, to illustrate how South Africa’s democratic project is emblematic of this breakdown. 

Featuring:

Pallo Jordan, struggle stalwart and former ANC National Executive Committee member & cabinet minister 

For many years, the Free State functioned as the personal fiefdom of one of South Africa’s most prominent – and most dangerous – politicians: former drama nerd, “internal exile” and Secretary General of the African National Congress, Elias “Ace” Magashule. Nokwanda Ngombane and her family experienced firsthand the thrall Magashule held over the province from the 2000s until his fall from power in 2021, and paid the ultimate price for their role in trying to rid the Free State of factionalism and corruption.

Featuring:

Elias Sekgobelo “Ace” Magashule, former Free State leader and former Secretary General of the ANC 

Nokwanda Ngombane, former chief of staff to former Free State premier, Beatrice Marshoff

Petrus “Pat” Zanemvula Matosa, struggle stalwart and former ANC Free State leader

Pieter-Louis Myburgh, investigative journalist at Daily Maverick Scorpio

Archive credits:

Associated Press / SABC News / eNews Channel Africa / Periscope Film / SA History Online

Click here for a full transcript of the episode.

Continuing with the Elias “Ace” Magashule saga, Diana Neille and Richard Poplak delve into the alleged political murder of Noby Ngombane, a key administrator in the attempted clean-up of the Free State during the early zeroes. His assassination is an example of what can happen when, in the binary gap between opportunity and poverty, liberal democracies begin to swerve toward gangsterism. The tragedy reverberates through the years, as if the sound of the gunshots has never faded.

Featuring:

Elias Sekgobelo “Ace” Magashule, former Free State leader and former Secretary General of the ANC 

Nokwanda Ngombane, former chief of staff to former Free State premier, Beatrice Marshoff

Petrus “Pat” Zanemvula Matosa, struggle stalwart and former ANC Free State leader

Pieter-Louis Myburgh, investigative journalist at Daily Maverick Scorpio

Beatrice Marshoff, former Premier of the Free State

Archive credits:

SABC News / eNCA / Ray Charles “Drown In My Own Tears” / Luther Vandross “Dance With My Father”, sung by Zandile Ngombane

Click here for a full transcript of the episode.

In this episode, the investigation swerves into South Africa’s Eastern Cape province — home of Struggle heroes like Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki and the Sisulus. But here the focus is on one of the most powerful politicians of the democratic era — Gwede Mantashe, long-time ANC boss and current Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy. As we delve into Mantashe’s life, we learn about his history in organised labour, and the role unions played in bringing down apartheid. But as the democratic age deepened, organised labour became embedded in the ANC, and Mantashe became the company man — a genial version of a mob boss. 

Featuring:

Gwede Mantashe, former union boss, ANC Secretary General and current Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy

Ferial Haffajee, Daily Maverick Associate Editor

Heinrich Böhmke, Director of the Specialised Skills Institute of South Africa; former trade unionist

Neil Coleman, Co-Founder and Senior Policy Specialist at Institute For Economic Justice (IEJ)

Jay Naidoo, co-founder of Cosatu

Estelle Ellis, Daily Maverick Senior Journalist

Bantu Holomisa, Parliamentarian and president of the United Democratic Movement

Dr Protas Madlala, struggle stalwart, businessman and academic

Archive credits:

SABC News / eNCA / British Pathé

Gwede Mantashe now presides over the most important portfolio in the Cabinet — mining and energy. He’s run it like a fiefdom, trying to shut down any real commitment to a green energy transition. We also explore how Mantashe aided and abetted State Capture, and the slow but sure creep toward a gangster state — and all-out gang warfare.

Featuring:

Gwede Mantashe, former union boss, ANC Secretary General and current Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy

Ferial Haffajee, Daily Maverick Associate Editor 

Heinrich Böhmke, Director of the Specialised Skills Institute of South Africa; former trade unionist

Archive credits:

SABC News / eNews Channel Africa / France 24 / CGTN

In this final episode of the journey, investigative journalists Diana Neille and Richard Poplak visit the ground zero of the July 2021 uprising: the strategic town of Mooi River. Here, we wrap up our deep dive into the nature of 21st-century liberal democracy and come to some conclusions on why it appears to be floundering.

Featuring:

Lincoln Waite, resident of Mooi River

Matt Nurse, resident of Mooi River

Gordon Odell, resident of Mooi River

Mzwandile Ncono, resident of Mooi River 

Songezo Zibi, author and co-founder of progressive think tank, the Rivonia Circle 

Ivor Chipkin, co-founder of the New South Institute

Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers

Dr Setlhomamaru Dintwe, Intelligence inspector-general 

Archive credits:

SABC News / eNews Channel Africa