TimesLIVE contributor and analyst Eusebius McKaiser examines the legal action being initiated against the department of public enterprises and Eskom in this audio explainer. Political parties, unionists and civil society bodies have sent a letter of demands to the two in an attempt to halt rolling blackouts. However, they are much wider in scope. McKaiser aims to explain who the litigants are and what they are demanding. He also offers a view on the politics at play, ending with commentary...

Business Unity South Africa president Bonang Mohale joined Eusebius McKaiser to discuss his recent opinion piece (https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2022-12-15-the-anc-cannot-fix-itself-south-africas-last-hope-is-business/ ) in which he argued the ANC cannot fix itself. Instead, he is of the view business is South Africa’s last hope. The discussion starts with an analysis of the ANC’s recent elective conference. McKaiser invited Mohale to comment on the new leadership composition of...

In this edition of Eusebius on TimesLIVE, he was joined by founding CEO of Diversi-T Terry Oakley-Smith to examine a range of issues on antiracism. Bringing her wealth of experience to bear on the conversation, Oakley-Smith started by explaining how little cross-racial contact and lack of early formation of cross-racial friendships shaped her own and many other white people's lack of appreciation for the lived experiences of black people. She explains it often requires intentional work or...

In this edition of Eusebius on TimesLIVE, podcast host Eusebius McKaiser wears his hat as a political analyst and reviews the coverage of what happened at a resort in the Free State recently. McKaiser argues and explains how certain frameworks chosen by reporters, subeditors, and editors unwittingly water down the seriousness of racism. He also offers arguments in support of the view that editorial choices are not value-neutral (just as neither writing nor reporting are value-neutral speech...

In this edition of Eusebius on TimesLIVE, he is joined by seasoned journalists Sam Mkokeli and Sabelo Skiti. They bring their collective institutional memories to bear on a range of questions: Who are the characters in the top 7? What do we know about their track records? Are they fit for purpose? A big theme in this podcast episode explores whether the newly elected top officials can improve the ANC. Can it now “renew” as it so often promises? The party used to be well known for effective...

In this short piece of audio analysis, TimesLIVE contributor and analyst Eusebius McKaiser summarises what President Cyril Ramaphosa set out to achieve in his political report at the African National Congress' elective conference. McKaiser argues, with examples to that end, that while Ramaphosa cited some details of the ANC government's achievements, he embellished his analysis of reality. A lot of the deeper structural challenges that had not been effectively dealt with by the ANC government...

Though constitutional processes necessitate government not putting the cart before the horse and engaging the public on proposed changes to the law, it is clear the government favours the decriminalisation of sex work. In this short edition of Eusebius on TimesLIVE, our contributor and analyst explains the Constitutional Court’s legal reasoning for its order that SACP leader Chris Hani’s assassin, Janusz Waluś, be paroled. Eusebius McKaiser explains why, in his view, the decision is legally...

In this short edition of Eusebius on TimesLIVE, our contributor and analyst explains the Constitutional Court’s legal reasoning that resulted in an order that SACP leader Chris Hani’s assassin, Janusz Waluś, should be freed on parole. He explains why, in his view, the decision is legally sound in terms of constitutional jurisprudence. Eusebius McKaiser examines the political and ethical context and consequences of the judgment, recognising that the legal reasoning cannot displace complex...

In the latest edition of Eusebius on TimesLIVE he is joined by journalist and author Jacques Pauw to discuss his new book, Our Poisoned Land. It is a sequel to his previous bestseller, The President's Keepers. McKaiser engaged Pauw on many themes and questions which included, amongst others, the following: is the much discussed excerpt about the EFF a distraction from the main issues in the book or a fair reflection of his intentions as author? How does he respond to critics who think that...

Eusebius McKaiser invited TimesLIVE editor Makhudu Sefara to discuss a TimesLIVE editorial that caught the podcast host’s attention. Sefara explains the editorial’s logic in support of the view that the politics playing out in Gauteng metros show political parties only care about power play and careerism, rather than about residents of the municipalities. The mayoral battles in Ekurhuleni in recent weeks are the main example discussed by Sefara and McKaiser. The editor argues that the DA’s...

Lukhona Mnguni, head of research at Rivonia Circle, joined Eusebius McKaiser on his TimesLIVE podcast to discuss the results of polling data and other research his organisation commissioned and worked on with Ipsos. The discussion started with an explanation of the research methodology. McKaiser pressure-tested the integrity of political polling in South Africa generally, raising concerns about demographic representation, sample size and assumptions about telephony and so on. Mnguni conceded...

In this edition of Eusebius on TimesLIVE the host offers his political interpretation, with which listeners of the podcast can wrestle, about former president Jacob Zuma's press conference this past weekend. McKaiser believes Zuma had two intentions: a desire to influence discourse about his political biography, and an attempt to influence the leadership battles within the ANC. Why does he think these were Zuma’s aims? And how does he assess Zuma’s performance in the presser?

Bain released a statement in which they asked the government to repeal a decision to ban the company from doing business with the state for 10 years. The decision was made because Bain has been implicated in state capture, but the company insists it is innocent. In a recent press statement, Bain argued “the South African Revenue Service (Sars) was — and remains — a critical institution and a source of pride for us as South Africans. We are embarrassed that this — procurement mistakes — could...

In this edition of Eusebius on TimesLIVE he analyses a controversial tweet DA leader Helen Zille aligned herself with. McKaiser argues why the tweet is not innocuous, but rather reveals a social conservatism and ahistoricism on the part of Zille. He teases out the implications for both the DA’s general brand and the danger of a reduction in competitive politics if such missteps are not nipped in the bud by Zille’s party leadership peers. As always, listeners of the podcast can decide for...

Terry Tselane, former vice-chairperson of the Electoral Commission (IEC) and executive chairperson of the Institute of Election Management Services in Africa, joined Eusebius McKaiser on his TimesLIVE podcast. Looking ahead to the 2024 national elections, they discussed whether electoral processes in SA are beyond reproach, or whether elections could conceivably be stolen.

Mike Siluma, deputy editor of The Sunday Times, and Susan Booysen, well-known political analyst, joined Eusebius McKaiser on his TimesLIVE podcast to discuss the current state of ANC leadership battles. The impetus for this episode of the podcast is the press statement this past week by former president Jacob Zuma that stated a number of views he holds ahead of the ANC elective conference. Zuma argued that a “generational mix” rather than a “generational takeover” is the best guiding...

University of Cape Town law professor Richard Calland is no longer going to serve on the panel tasked with a preliminary inquiry into a motion in terms of section 89 of the constitution. This motion relates to the Phala Phala controversy around president Cyril Ramaphosa. Some political parties had objected to Calland's appointment on the basis that he is politically biased in favour of Ramaphosa. Calland appeared on Eusebius on TimesLIVE to explain his decision to accept the judgment of the...

Former DA leader Mmusi Maimane told TimesLIVE contributor and analyst Eusebius McKaiser why he decided to register a political party to contest the 2024 elections. On Eusebius on TimesLIVE, Maimane argues that communities are disempowered by the electoral system, which is why he focused his energies, after exiting formal politics in 2019, on electoral reform. He says effective political accountability requires that communities have the ability to recall parliamentarians who do not fulfil...

Eusebius on TimesLIVE hosted Rochelle de Kock (editor, The Herald) and Andisa Bonani (senior political reporter, The Herald) to explain and debate this week's political drama in Nelson Mandela Bay. The municipality has a new mayor, the DA's Retief Odendaal, who replaces the ANC's Eugene Johnson. She was removed in the early hours of Thursday after a marathon council sitting that led to a motion of no confidence in her. It was passed by one vote. What was the basis of the motion? Why did some...

IFP spokesperson and MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa joined analyst and broadcaster Eusebius McKaiser on his TimesLIVE podcast to explain why the party is marching to City Press this Friday. Mkhuleko was at pains to explain they are doing so “as a last resort” in response to multiple “unsubstantiated” claims and “blatant lies” made by the City Press editor in his various columns, over several years, that IFP founder Mangosuthu Buthelezi is “a mass murderer”. McKaiser pressure-tested the objective of the...

Historian Vashna Jaganarth was a guest on Eusebius on TimesLIVE in an episode focused on understanding the long history of English monarchies. Jaganarth started off, setting aside political and moral questions about contemporary Britain, and focused on narrating a long, rich and interesting history of English monarchies. She shows how the territory now known as England was itself a site of violent contestation, based on the expansionist ideals of mainland European dynasties. Before British...

On his TimesLIVE podcast, contributor and analyst Eusebius McKaiser hosted senior investigative reporters Thanduxolo Jika and Sabelo Skiti. They engaged major news stories in the recent news cycle, diving below the headlines, offering interpretation and framing critical discussion about what matters. The first issue they debated was whether the apparent implosion of Cope is to be lamented. Skiti offered an argument for why the party was bound to be stillborn, if one had proper regard for the...

Should the US be seen as a hegemonic power preying on Africa? Is it using Africa as a proxy for geopolitical battles with Russia and China? Or is the US merely interested in favourable economic diplomacy in Africa, as all countries should be across the world? How should the region view the US? What is the best strategic posture to adopt in international relations with the US? These were some of the questions posed by Eusebius McKaiser on his TimesLIVE podcast this week. He again hosted Koffi...

EXPLAINED: Why EFF had the last say in AfriForum hate speech case Advocate Ben Winks joined Eusebius McKaiser on Eusebius on TimesLIVE to explain the judgment handed down on Thursday in the Equality Court, in which AfriForum's case against the EFF was dismissed. AfriForum had hoped the singing of the two songs, Kill the Boer and Biza amaFirebrigade (“call the fire brigade”) would be declared hate speech. The court did not grant this order, and in this explainer podcast, Winks and McKaiser...

In this short entry on Eusebius on TimesLIVE, the host initiates debate on a viral video. In it, Limpopo health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba is seen and heard berating a foreigner who is scheduled for surgery. McKaiser frames a political, medical ethics and realpolitik debate. He argues that her remarks are incompatible with appropriate forums for raising political concerns with other countries. He also opines that her remarks are incompatible with medical ethics. McKaiser adds that ANC...