Sunday Times Politics Weekly

Protesting in South Africa comes at a price, sometimes a deadly one. From Sharpeville to today's crackdowns, the state's response to dissent has often been force, not dialogue. As the country marks Human Rights Day, the question remains: Why does standing up for basic rights still come with heavy consequences? In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we unpack with experts issues behind police brutality and state repression. Their insights paint a troubling picture of a system where law enforcement is often used to silence dissent rather than protect citizens.

The Sunday Times' Lizeka Tandwa spoke to Gauteng PTT coordinator Hope Papo about how they intend to turn around the party's fortunes. 

ANC heavyweight Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has expressed her disapproval of the government of national unity (GNU), saying that if it had been up to her, the ANC would not have formed a government with the DA.

ormer president Jacob Zuma has laid out details of an audacious plan to “take back my ANC', by uniting “black” parties under his MK party banner and recapturing the leadership of the party, which he said had “deviated from our ancestors”. He spoke to Sunday Times politics editor Sibongakonke Shoba about various topics, including the formation of the MK Party and his decision not to relinquish his ANC membership.

Former Botswana leader Ian Khama has called on the country's new president, Duma Boko, to launch an investigation into the ousted Mokgweetsi Masisi's use of government finances during his period in power. Khama says he feels responsible for the 'dictatorship' that ensued after Masisi took power. The former president was in conversation with Sunday Times politics reporter, Kgothatso Madisa.

Prof Susan Booysen says the government of national unity (GNU) is a coalition with the DA but the ANC invited other parties to avoid political trouble. The Wits emeritus professor and independent research consultant explored the survival prospects of the GNU and the changed terrain in which all political parties are having to find their way. She joined Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast.

Former public protector Thuli Madonsela believes white racists should be helped to heal so they don't wound others. She joined Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma in conversation after she set the cat among the pigeons with a post on her X account suggesting race supremacists need to be helped to heal from their post-transformation trauma. Madonsela said supremacists need to accept they are not superior to others. “It's not always just about race though, it's [also] about gender. Anybody who was raised in that just because they look a particular way they deserve more than others in a society based on human rights, social justice and acceptance of equality of all human beings, to them it feels like a loss of a right as opposed to loss of an unmerited privilege.” White people should not teach black people to deal with their trauma as they would make wrong assumptions. “White people should help other white people to understand that the ‘loss' is not really a loss as such but changed expectations.” The topic harms white and black people, said Madonsela. “For everyone's sake, in the same way that when it comes to gender we say we need to do ‘man work', we have to do white work and white people have to do white work."

Just a week after President Cyril Ramaphosa reassured the country he intended to serve a full term in office, ANC Limpopo provincial secretary Reuben Madadzhe has come out in support of his continued presidency.

The ANC Youth League secretary-general has warned South Africa is on the brink of a revolution that will see young people rise up against white South Africans if the economy continues to be in the red.Mntuwoxolo Ngudle spoke to TimesLIVE Premium on the state of the economy, accusing the private sector of “treason” for failing to transform the economy.

At the age of just 32 and with a possibly illustrious political career ahead of him, acting ANC national spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi admits that the prospect of inheriting a dying party keeps him up at night. 

A few months ago Eskom was the black sheep of public opinion, but last month we reported that the utility recorded its highest energy generation levels in six years. It's not out of the woods yet — chairperson Mteto Nyati says they will execute remaining aspects of Eskom's recovery plan. Nyati shares the formula they used to rescue Eskom from the brink of collapse. Two years ago the president roped him in to help save the power utility. Nyati speaks about the plans they implemented to get to where there is no load-shedding for at least 160 consecutive days, the longest period in a while. He, however, is reluctant to say load-shedding has ended. Load-shedding reached its peak in 2022 and last year to beginning of this year. The utility regularly receives financial bailouts from government. Nyati says that will soon end because Eskom will stand on its own feet. “We are saving from last year. Already in this financial year which start[ed] on 1st of April we have saved R10bn on last year.” He talks to our digital politics editor, Lizeka Tandwa, in this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly about the criticality of the leadership change in the company, which included appointing Dan Marokane as CEO and the importance of the executives' relationship with him.

Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi outlines promising economic plans that will “break the backbone of unemployment” like expanding the Gautrain for residents and plans the government of provincial unity has to make Gauteng a world-class province. Lesufi warns that the ANC is a “sinking ship” and speaks on the government of national unity.  He exclusively speaks to Sunday Times political journalist Kgothatso Madisa a day after he delivered his state of the province address. Lesufi says “we can't have everyone coming here [Gauteng]”.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has launched a disciplinary process against three senior party leaders implicated in the Zondo state capture report: Malusi Gigaba, David Mahlobo and Cedric Frolick.

After the formation of the government of national unity, the DA has emerged as an important player in the alliance. The party's federal chairperson Helen Zille opens up on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast about the considerations of the architecture of the GNU and her relationship with some of the ANC's top executives. She also speaks about issues such as racism, service delivery, the economy and crime. Zille, 73, a former journalist at the Rand Daily Mail who exposed the apartheid police cover-up of Chris Hani's assassination, also opens up about how she transitioned from journalism to politics. Besides being a wife, she is a mother and a grandmother. She talks about how politics has affected her life. Production by: Bulelani Nonyukela.

In this episode TimesLIVE digital politics editor Lizeka Tandwa talks to COSATU president Zingiswa Losi about the formation and the SACP stance on the government of national unity, the ANC's path of renewal, and the party's drop in the election results.

ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe tells Sunday Times politics editor Sibongakonke Shoba that DA federal chair Helen Zille will collapse the government of unity. “We are not going to have a parallel government run by Helen Zille. There's one president here and that president is President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Political analyst Dr Sithembile Mbete and Lizeka Tandwa from the Sunday Times politics team define and scrutinise the ANC's options for governing models, such as government of national unity [which the party announced as its choice on Thursday evening], a grand coalition and a minority government. They also look at the party's conflicting ideologies and policies, the options for coalition partners and what it would mean for South Africa.

South Africa allowed Zimbabwe to be run into the ground, says Mmusi Maimane on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, blaming the government for the influx of Zimbabweans into SA. “If it wasn't for the ANC's policy on the government of national unity when [late former president of Zimbabwe Robert] Mugabe had lost elections we wouldn't have this influx of Zimbabweans,” says Maimane as he is quizzed by Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma. Zimbabwean citizens fled to SA because of economic turmoil and political violence, among other reasons, in 2007. SA had been a mediator in that country's political conflict.  According to census figures there were just more than a million Zimbabweans in SA in 2022. The topic of undocumented migrants is dominating the political agenda in the run-up to the May 29 elections. Maimane proposes borders be secured and foreigners be legalised. He believes he can document foreigners in two years. Maimane has criteria for foreigners wanting to become citizens: learn SA's laws, speak South African languages and don't set up your own community in SA. That's just the tip of the wide-ranging conversation with Maimane in this instalment of the podcast. Maimane talks about a grand coalition of opposition parties; parties he can work with; solutions to crime, saying localised policing, metro police and private police should be merged; and the controversial National Health Insurance which he says is populist and timed for the election. Don't take our word for it — listen, and share your views.

The DA should have burnt the ANC flag instead of the national flag, says ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba says in a wide-ranging interview on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast. The party stirred controversy earlier this week when it launched its election campaign advertisement showing the national flag in flames. The DA has defended the advert, with federal chair Helen Zille saying the alternative to being rescued is dying. The party's election slogan is “Unite to rescue South Africa”. Asked about his ambitions, Mashaba said: “Being president of the country or being a premier are the last jobs I want, but I am committed to finding a solution to our country's problems.” He said he blames former president Thabo Mbeki for many of the country's problems, saying his advice proved to be “disastrous” and “he's got the experience of destroying”. Mashaba told podcast host Mike Siluma that ActionSA has proposed renaming eThekwini after the late Mangosuthu Buthelezi. He also discussed his party's plans for economic recovery and immigration. Listen and share your views.

Anele Mda, an independent candidate vying for a seat in parliament, says political parties will be chasing after independents but she won't work with any party. She is our guest on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast with Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma.  We kick-start the conversation by asking her why it was important to publicly rebuke the IEC for not displaying her photo during the signing of the Electoral Code of Conduct. Eastern Cape-born Mda tells us how she was bitten by the politics bug as a child and about her journey in politics.  She is a former ANC member and founding member of COPE. In a significant milestone in our democracy independent candidates have a seat at the table with established political parties for the first time in the country's history to contest elections.  “We are the ones who will set the agenda. Political parties will be the ones running after us, not the other way around,” she says. Mda says she is not planning not to become entangled with any political party. She also took swipe at some parties. “Imagine having to sit in the ANC in this day and age and lie and say there's a good story to tell? What good story to tell? Imagine being in the DA and sit there and lie and say there's a whole intentional embrace of Africans in the DA … Imagine me going to an EFF where I am going to be led by a demagogue that does not respect any woman leader … Imagine me going to Rise Mzansi, sitting there and acting as though 'no we're an honest new political party that is not aligned'. Who funds you?” she said. More is covered in detail in the conversation. Listen, subscribe for free and share with your circle.

One of the big election stories has been the Jacob Zuma factor and his uMkhonto weSizwe Party. According to polls and by-election results, the party has outshone parties such as the EFF and the IFP. In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly we explain and hopefully demystify the Zuma/MKP phenomenon in our politics, and how it might impact our body politic after May 29. Our guests this time are Sanusha Naidu, senior research associate with the Institute for Global Dialogue, and Susan Booysen, visiting Wits professor. We hear on the podcast that Zuma feels wronged by corruption allegations against him and is out for revenge against his successor President Cyril Ramaphosa. Booysen tells us the MKP is a revenge party that will wreak havoc on the ANC, and it could damage it much more than it has so far. Booysen explains which parties the MKP is taking votes from, and if polls and by-elections are good predictors of the May 29 election results. Naidu says Zuma's purpose is about vindicating himself because he did not finish his second term. On the party's court battles with the IEC, Naidu says, “I get the sense we'll have to deal with security now more than ever before in this election”. There are a lot more interesting perspectives from our panellists who are hosted by Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma. Listen and share your views.

One of the big election stories has been the Jacob Zuma factor and his uMkhonto weSizwe Party. According to polls and by-election results, the party has outshone parties such as the EFF and the IFP. In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly we explain and hopefully demystify the Zuma/MKP phenomenon in our politics, and how it might impact our body politic after May 29. Our guests this time are Sanusha Naidu, senior research associate with the Institute for Global Dialogue, and Susan Booysen, visiting Wits professor. We hear on the podcast that Zuma feels wronged by corruption allegations against him and is out for revenge against his successor President Cyril Ramaphosa. Booysen tells us the MKP is a revenge party that will wreak havoc on the ANC, and it could damage it much more than it has so far. Booysen explains which parties the MKP is taking votes from, and if polls and by-elections are good predictors of the May 29 election results. Naidu says Zuma's purpose is about vindicating himself because he did not finish his second term. On the party's court battles with the IEC, Naidu says, “I get the sense we'll have to deal with security now more than ever before in this election”. There are a lot more interesting perspectives from our panellists who are hosted by Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma. Listen and share your views.

Mike Siluma sits down with Election expert Ebrahim Fakir to discuss the upcoming South African elections and what you need to know from how they work, to how they are calculated and what you need to do!

Veteran trade union leader Zwelinzima Vavi has had his setbacks, but the “tragic mistake” he is still kicking himself for was to support Jacob Zuma in becoming president of the ANC and the republic. The only mistake, and the biggest mistake, is that I was convinced by some members of both Cosatu and the SACP that the then deputy president of the ANC, Jacob Zuma, was going to be good for the agenda of the working class and therefore we must rally workers behind him.” In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, politics reporter Sisanda Mbolekwa is joined by Saftu general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi to unpack a variety of issues, including the state of trade unions in the country, his views on South Africa's political landscape, the upcoming general elections and what it will take to fix some of the biggest crises facing the country.

South Africa's position in the Israel-Hamas war has further strained relations between Pretoria and the Israeli government, culminating this week in the withdrawal of our country's diplomats from Israel. In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly we explore the issues at the heart of the disagreement between the countries, and why South Africa is supporting the cause of the Palestinians. Our guests are Garth le Pere, visiting professor at the University of Pretoria, and Dr Lubna Nadvi, who teaches politics at UKZN. The two kick us off by explaining the historical relationship between the ANC (by extension the current government) and Palestinians and the history of the war. Nadvi, analysing the significance of the recalling our diplomats from Israel, argues the decision was inevitable and says the real test will be when South Africa shuts the Israeli embassy. The war has displaced more than 2-million people in Gaza and the deaths of nearly 11,000 Palestinians.  Nadvi's teaching areas include international relations, Middle Eastern politics and peace studies while Le Pere is an executive director at the Institute for Global Dialogue. His areas of interest include international relations, South African foreign policy and the politics of the Middle East. Producer: Bulelani Nonyukela.

This week police arrested Dudu Myeni, the former chairperson of SAA and an associate of ex-president Jacob Zuma on fraud and corruption charges – charges arising from benefits she allegedly received from Bosasa, the defunct company implicated in state capture. In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we look at the state's underwhelming track record in bringing to book individuals accused of complicity in state capture during the Jacob Zuma presidency. Chief justice Raymond Zondo, who chaired the inquiry, made 205 recommendations on criminal investigations and possible prosecution of people and companies compromised in state capture. Our guests this time are Thanduxolo Jika (Sunday Times investigations journalist) and political analyst Asanda Ngoasheng and the debate is stimulating. Producer: Bulelani Nonyukela.

This week on Sunday Times Politics Weekly we delve into the controversial legacy of IFP founder and prime minister to the Zulu nation Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who died at the weekend at the age of 95.  Buthelezi's legacy has been the centre of debate in recent days after his passing, with some labelling him a “warmonger”, a catalyst for violence and a prop or ally of the apartheid government. On the other hand, his defenders have labelled him an iconic political figure and a struggle icon. The EFF's Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, speaking during a memorial service held in Buthelezi's honour in Ulundi on Wednesday, said he was “a man of peace”. Our host, deputy editor of the Sunday Times Mike Siluma, is joined by Dr Bongani Ngqulunga, academic, author and director of the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Johannesburg, and academic researcher and violence monitor Mary de Haas.  They assess the complexities of Buthelezi's story, his role in the violent past of South Africa, the fairness of this depiction and the impact this played on his political mileage. They also unpack his relationship with the apartheid government, and between the IFP with ANC then and going forward.  Sunday Times Politics Weekly is a TimesLIVE production. 

In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics weekly, Sunday Times Politics Editor Sibongakonke Shoba sat down with Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald, one of the parties for the proposed ‘moonshot' pact alliance. Asked if he thought the country was ready for a white president, Groenewald said: ‘No. We're too close to apartheid still'. Groenewald also spoke on working dynamics of multiparty coalitions, redressing the inequalities of South Africa's past, and what he thought of DA leader John Steenhuisen.

This week on the Sunday Times politics Weekly we shine the spotlight on the prospects of the Zimbabwe elections. Our panellists on the podcast are prominent Zimbabwean scholar professor Ibbo Mandaza and Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena representing Zimbabwe Community in South Africa organisation. The two assess what the elections mean and the role of the Southern Africa region in turning the country around. Next month, on August 23, Zimbabweans head to the polls to choose from a dozen candidates vying to be the county's next president. The main contest is between Zanu-PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa, who seeks a second term and Nelson Chamisa, of the new Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). The guests are pessimistic about what the elections hold. As the Brics summit approaches next month in South Africa, Mabhena says Zimbabwe must benefit from Brics programmes. Mandaza says “there can be no solution to the Zimbabwean crisis without South Africa” but SA leaders should be informed about the Zimbabwe. The host is Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma and the producer is Bulelani Nonyukela.

Recently elected ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji joins 'Sunday Times Politics Weekly' to assess South Africa's politics and the role of young people and what he stands for. He was elected unopposed earlier this month after an eight-year leadership void in the ANCYL. Episode hosted by Sunday Times political reporter Sisanda Mbolekwa and produced by Bulelani Nonyukela.

Since his appointment, there has been keen interest to better understand where Deputy president Paul Mashatile stands on national issues.  In this episode of the Politics Weekly, Mashatile sat down with Sunday Times' Sibongakonke Shoba, Kgothatso Madisa and Caiphus Kgosana for a wide ranging conversation including among other things his view on the country's just transition to green and renewable energy, the basic income grant and the now non-attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin.  Other topics of discussion include the ANC's plans to regain the majority vote in the 2024 general elections, recent claims to oust Mashatile from office and his contentious relationship with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Our guests on the ‘Sunday Times Politics Weekly' are pessimistic about the plan hatched by DA leader John Steenhuisen to unseat the ANC. This week Steenhuisen announced that six opposition parties would hold a national convention aimed at ousting the ANC in the next elections. The so-called “Moonshot Pact” was first mooted by the DA at its congress in April. Besides the DA, the parties which have signed on for the convention are the IFP, Freedom Front Plus, Action SA, United Independent Movement and Spectrum National Party. In this episode of the Politics Weekly, we explore the Moonshot Pact's chances of success. On our panel this time are political analyst Asanda Ngoasheng and Wayne Sussman (election analyst). Listen and share your views.

Joburg speaker Colleen Makhubele talks to Sunday Times Politics Weekly about politics, her ambition to lead COPE, being fired on national TV and more. She joined Sunday Times journalist Sisanda Mbolekwa in studio on the podcast and talked about the calibre of leaders in Johannesburg and mayor Kabelo Gwamanda.

Unisa's Prof Everisto Benyera counts what South Africa loses for its stance in the Russia-Ukraine war. He, in part, specialises in peace-building and mediation. Last week, African leaders led by President Cyril Ramaphosa undertook a mediation mission to Ukraine and Russia in the latest bid to end the war in Ukraine. That mission received a mixed reaction, with some deriding it as Ramaphosa's ploy to change negative international perceptions about SA's non-aligned stance. Benyera tells our Sunday Times Politics Weekly host, deputy editor Mike Siluma, that the intervention was “historic at many levels” and explains the two ways the peace mission ought to be measured. He weighs in on SA's “diplomatic gravitas” on the African continent and in the international arena. Others supported the mission, arguing that Africa needed to do something about a war that was harming it. The question is: was the African mission all worth it? Could it change the course of the war? Benyera is a professor of African politics in the department of political science at Unisa.

In a wide-ranging conversation with ‘Sunday Times Politics Weekly', EFF leader Julius Malema shared his views on the upcoming elections, and possible coalition permutations. Malema says he won't join any coalition in which Cyril Ramaphosa or John Steenhuisen are potential presidents. However, he did speak of his willingness to work with deputy president, Paul Mashatile, whom he acknowledged he had a soft spot for. Malema also addressed the willingness of the party to accept former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule who, like himself, had been expelled from the party. Malema also reflected among other things on: the party's overall growth ahead of their 10 anniversary celebrations in July, his stance on the impending visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the recent passing of the NHI Bill, corruption allegations levelled against him, his past actions and their impact on how the public see him, and the party's views of the commemoration of Youth Day in the present day. The episode is hosted by Sunday Times political editor Sibongakonke Shoba, and produced by Demi Buzo.

A public spat has recently broken out between King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and his prime minister, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, over control of the Ingonyama Trust. The trust controls large tracts of land in KwaZulu-Natal — about 2.8-million hectares — on behalf of the Zulu kingdom. Sunday Times journalist Zimasa Matiwane, who has been following the story, and UKZN academic Dr Mphumeleli Ngidi, who teaches history, explain the origin of the dispute.  Reports that suggest the dispute in the royal Zulu house could lead to violence is not an overstatement, we hear on Sunday Times Politics Weekly.

In a wide-ranging conversation with ‘Sunday Times Politics Weekly', ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula speaks on the ANC, his predecessor Ace Magashule who faces possible expulsion from the party, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mbalula reflected on his tenure as party SG and assessed the ruling party under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa. He said voter frustration gave him the impression support for the ruling party could be as low as 30% ahead of next year's general elections, but says the party has not discussed coalitions. The episode is hosted by Sunday Times reporter Kgothatso Madisa, and produced by Bulelani Nonyukela.

The cholera outbreak in Tshwane has again put the spotlight on the crisis in local government negatively impacting service delivery to citizens.  Local government is often regarded as the coalface at which the state delivers citizens' basic needs. But what is their recourse when it fails to do so, as is the case in much of the country?  To explore the matter, we are joined on Sunday Times Politics Weekly by Dr Sithembile Mbete, a lecturer in the department of political sciences at the University of Pretoria and an associate fellow at its Centre for Governance Innovation, and Sandile Swana, a political analyst and governance expert.

Mass deportation of illegal foreigners, death penalty, cancelling race — some of the (things) Gayton McKenzie says he will do when he becomes president. In a robust conversation on the Sunday Times Politics weekly with the Patriotic Alliance leader, McKenzie says he knows he will become SA president and laid down his objectives which “are all anti-SA constitution”, which he labelled as hypocritical. “I know I'm gonna be the president of this country and God will come back to South Africa.” McKenzie spoke on being a gang leader and how his life transformed through God. The former mayor of the Central Karoo District blames illegal foreigners for all SA's problems and wants everyone to walk around with identification. On the podcast he elaborated on the six things he stands for which are: 1. Bring God back to schools: “God will come back to South Africa” 2. National service, conscription: “military” 3. Mass deportation of illegal foreigners: “all our problems stem from illegal foreigners. They will leave.” 4. Bring back the death penalty: “you kill, I kill you” 5. Stop exportation of our unrefined minerals: “we shall get the maximum benefit from our minerals” 6. Cancel race: “how long are white kids gonna pay for the sins of their grandparents?” Current coalition governments, notably in the big metros, have been characterised by instability and infighting, in which the PA has been an important player. He explained why he withdrew from contesting for the Joburg mayor position as he could not assure his coalition partners on what they wanted him to stand for and how he changed support for former Joburg mayor Thapelo Amad as he was “faced with facts”. He says the PA is open to coalition with any political party next year as it wants power like any other party, and says one of the options next year after elections include the PA deciding who will be president. He joined in studio Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma and producer Bulelani Nonyukela for a vigorous conversation.

Amid the ICC arrest warrant, Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit has been intensely debated in the ANC NEC.  SA was also naive for not making provisions to protect itself when it joined the International Criminal Court. We hear from our guests on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast this week. Previously, we discussed the dilemma faced by our government after the ICC's issuing of an arrest warrant for Putin, who is due to attend the Brics summit in Durban in August. Since then the problem has become more acute. The government is still scrambling for a solution as the clock ticks by. This week the issue boiled down to whether SA should leave the ICC. The broader question is whether our foreign policy has completely lost its way. Sunday Times presidential correspondent Amanda Khoza gives us insights into the NEC considerations on Putin's visit, while UJ professor Sphamandla Zondi shares expert analysis on SA's dilemma.

Amid continuing uncertainty in the leadership of metros in Gauteng, ActionSA has tabled motions of no-confidence against the current mayor Thapelo Amad and speaker of Johannesburg, Colleen Makhubele. To talk about what seems like a drastic step, and other issues afflicting party coalitions as well as ActionSA's way forward going into the 2024 elections, host Mike Siluma is joined by ActionSA National Chairperson, Michael Beaumont.

Our country has been placed in a quandary after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant of arrest for Russian President Vladimir Putin which compels SA, as a signatory to the ICC's Rome Statute, to arrest him if he visits South Africa. International relations minister Naledi Pandor has said Russian is an old, historic friend which supported the fight against apartheid. Putin is expected to visit South Africa in August to attend a Brics summit and the country has been ordered to arrest him over alleged atrocities in the Ukraine war. South Africa has remained neutral in the war but is now obliged to arrest the head of a co-member state. That's the acute dilemma discussed on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast with UJ's Prof Sphamandla Zondi and Wits University's Prof William Gumede, who help us unpack the ICC's power, consequences for honouring or dishonouring the warrant, the possible ways SA can get out of the awkward situation, and other issues.