Podcasts about State capture

In this episode for our Conflicted Community, we continue our survey of the Israel-Palestine question with another interview, as Thomas Small engages with Rob Geist-Pinfold, a lecturer in defense studies and international security. This week we focus particularly on the Israeli settler movement. The conversation delves into the historical roots of the settler movement, its evolution from a secular to a religiously motivated initiative, and the intricate relationship between settlers and the Israeli state. The discussion also touches on the impact of the Oslo Accords and the shifting dynamics of Israeli politics in relation to Palestinian statehood.  They also discuss the division of the West Bank, and the influence of the settler movement on Israeli politics, in what Rob terms a kind of State Capture. They discuss the evolving role of far-right politics in Israel, particularly in the context of the October 7th attacks, and how these events have shifted Israel's grand strategy towards a more aggressive foreign policy, especially in Syria. The conversation highlights the implications of these dynamics for the future of the region and the ongoing challenges faced by both Israelis and Palestinians. To listen to the full episode, you'll need to subscribe to the Conflicted Community. And don't forget, subscribers can also join our Conflicted Community chatroom, where you can interact with fellow dearest listeners, discuss episodes past and future, get exclusive messages from Thomas and Aimen, ask future Q&A questions and so much more. All the information you need to sign up is on this link: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/  Conflicted is proudly made by Message Heard, a full-stack podcast production agency which uses its extensive expertise to make its own shows such as Conflicted, shows for commissioners such as the BBC, Spotify and Al Jazeera, and powerfully effective podcasts for other companies too. If you'd like to find out how we can help get your organisation's message heard, visit messageheard.com or drop an email to hello@messageheard.com! Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflicted And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Millions of South Africans were plunged into peak-hour darkness again last night. In this interview with BizNews, Kevin Mileham, the Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Electricity and Energy, says that ESKOM's fleet is running at 28% unplanned outages - and that “this last week, they've burned 210 million rands worth of diesel to keep the lights on.” As for sabotage, Mileham says: “I think that we've come a long way in that respect, that there's less, to use that word, sabotage than there was before… and I think that certainly the department and ESKOM are taking steps in that regard to weed those people out and take the necessary action against them. It's not happening as quickly as I would like, but there are steps being taken.” ESKOM is also battling the financial impact of corruption . “I think one of the challenges that we've got is, and again, I'm going to emphasise State Capture as being part of the problem, that we had a massively corrupt entity where things ran years over time, cost more than double what they were budgeted for. And as a result, ESKOM's balance sheet took a huge hammering.” Meanwhile, Mileham expresses concerns around the National Transmission Company which he says “needs to be really fully independent…it needs to be out of ESKOM's control and more independent minded so that there's a level playing field between ESKOM and the private sector generators.” He notes that ESKOM still behaves in a “very monopolistic fashion; that they aren't willing to play fairly and competitively with other role players”.

The State's failure to both prosecute Apartheid-era crimes and effectively pursue Zondo Commission State Capture accused, is back in the spotlight. For decades, allegations have persisted that the National Party (NP) and the African National Congress (ANC) cut a secret deal to avoid prosecutions on both sides following testimony at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). In this interview with BizNews, Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach of the Democratic Alliance (DA) describes President Cyril Ramaphosa's belated decision to establish a Commission of Inquiry as a “desperate measure to avoid all of this dirty laundry being trawled through the public eye”. As for the “showcase” trial of former Vlakplaas commander, Colonel Eugene de Kock, she says: “..one always felt that he was kind of the scapegoat, because we all know that while he was busy doing those things that were so absolutely appalling, he was being lavishly praised by his superiors in the police and awarded medals for, amongst other things, bravery...And those people calling the shots have never been held to account which is both unsatisfying and deeply unfair.” Breytenbach is equally incensed about the failure to “see even one” notable State Capture prosecution. As for claims of “political interference” there as well, she says: “The last time interference was mentioned was with the access to the database of the State Capture issue; there was..a peripheral reference to interference. But…when we (Parliament's Portfolio Committee) asked about it, we were told, well, we prefer to keep it in-house because we don't want to make a fuss. Well, that's just not my approach to things, I'm afraid.”

Clement Manyathela speaks to Micheal Marchant, the Head of Investigations at Open Secrets about why the NPA has not been able to prosecute high-profile state capture or corruption cases The Clement Manyathela Show is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station, weekdays from 09:00 to 12:00 (SA Time). Clement Manyathela starts his show each weekday on 702 at 9 am taking your calls and voice notes on his Open Line. In the second hour of his show, he unpacks, explains, and makes sense of the news of the day. Clement has several features in his third hour from 11 am that provide you with information to help and guide you through your daily life. As your morning friend, he tackles the serious as well as the light-hearted, on your behalf. Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Clement Manyathela Show. Listen live – The Clement Manyathela Show is broadcast weekdays between 09:00 and 12:00 (SA Time) on 702 https://www.primediaplus.com/station/702 Find all the catch-up podcasts here https://www.primediaplus.com/702/the-clement-manyathela-show/audio-podcasts/the-clement-manyathela-show/ Subscribe to the 702 daily and weekly newsletters https://www.primediaplus.com/competitions/newsletter-subscription/  Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702   702 on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702  702 on Instagram: www.instagram.com/talkradio702  702 on X: www.x.com/Radio702  702 on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@radio702  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're bringing back Spencer Graham, co-founder of Hats Protocol, for a minihash episode to revisit the anticapture frame he wrote about three years ago in the context of today's political climate. Spencer shares insights on the dangers of centralized execution power, the challenge of tribalism, and the importance of decentralized systems. He also discusses past failures in DAOs due to capture issues, stressing the need for continuous learning and innovation within the Ethereum ecosystem. You can listen to Spencer's previous episode on Rehash here: https://youtu.be/HweC8hREvRk?si=7kpVeboUSak_sMeF ⏳ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Intro 01:09 Recapping the anticapture framework 08:39 Applying anticapture to current events 16:39 Applying anticapture to DAOs 19:33 Follow Spencer 

Rebecca Davis joins Dan Corder to reflect on just how strange the news can be. From the most important to the very strange, John and Rebecca offer their view of what is happening in our world that makes it at times infuriating, at times inspirational but always fascinating. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Maytham is joined by Dr Jean Redpath, Senior Researcher at the Dullah Omar Institute, to explore how South Africa’s criminal justice system has lost the urgency it once had and to highlight a dramatic decline in prosecutions, court inefficiencies, and an NPA still weakened by the era of state capture. Dr Redpath explains why reforming the NPA’s independence, leadership appointments, and operational capacity is critical for justice, accountability, and the country’s democratic stability.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this episode Dr Marianne Camerer, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town's Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, and Devi Pillay, a research fellow with the GI-ACE programme, join regular KB host Liz David-Barrett to discuss the experience of state capture in South Africa, under the presidency of Jacob Zuma. Check out the following resources to learn more about the issues discussed in this episode: The Open Secrets website which houses the Civil Society Working Group Against State Capture https://www.opensecrets.org.za/civil-society-working-group-on-state-capture/ The State Capture Commission website https://www.statecapture.org.za/ The Public Protector's 2016 report https://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/state-capture-report-public-protector-14-october-2016 A short summary written by Devi of the Commission and its findings https://pari.org.za/summary-the-state-capture-commission And the book "State Capture in South Africa: How and why it happened", edited by Mbongiseni Buthelezi and Peter Vale https://pari.org.za/new-book-state-capture-in-south-africa-how-and-why-it-happened/

Clement Manyathela speaks to Mteto Nyati, Eskom chairperson as they discuss challenges that are faced by Eskom and how the utility is turning things around.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawson Naido ,Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) takes a look at who could replace outgoing NPA head Shamiela Batohi who is due to retire in January 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The frontrunner for US Ambassador to South Africa says yesterday's anti-US article in Foreign Policy deserves a strong response: targeted financial sanctions against its author Cyril Ramaphosa and wealthy ANC cadres. Johannesburg-born Joel Pollak, the senior editor at Breitbart, says publicly exposing the international financial assets of billionaire Ramaphosa and politically connected cadres including those who benefitted from State Capture, will likely make US president Donald Trump a hero among the people of SA. He anticipates something similar to the overwhelmingly positive public response in America to exposures from Elon Musk's DOGE project. Pollak spoke to BizNews founder Alec Hogg.

About R60-billion a year would have come in from the additional VAT in the aborted proposal to raise it by 2%. The loot of State Capture is estimated in trillions. There has been a wide range of different reactions to the postponement of the Budget Speech in Parliament on 19 February 2025, a truly unprecedented event in the history of South Africa. Advocate Paul Hoffman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marius Roodt and Makone Maja discuss the contentions SAA CEO candidate selection process that's riddled with ANC interference; the MK Party's disciplinary hearing of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla; and comment on the Gauteng State of the Province address. ------------------ Hudaco Energy is thrilled to offer Daily Friend listeners an exclusive promotion! Book a free or business or household audit, and we'll show you how we put more money back in your pocket without hefty upfront costs. Reach out to us at sales@hudacoenergy.co.za or call us at 011 447 9864. Hudaco Energy – Sustainable Power and Storage Solutions Provider ----------------- Website · Facebook · Instagram · Twitter

Simon's live report for LBC, with Lewis Goodall sitting in for James O'Brien.

Simon's live update for LBC's late night programme with Nick Abbot.  

The South African government “loves to view things based on revenge policies” against minorities whilst “forgetting that the same bills…are actually creating more hurdles” for the majority. So says Free SA's Noluthando Hlophoyi. In this interview with BizNews, she describes the National State Enterprises Bill as “State Capture 2.0” and the Land Expropriation Bill as “a huge threat”. She also slams the NHI Bill. “…I always say these bills aren't meant to empower the ordinary black person. If I were just to put it in terms of colour, they are also meant to put more shackles on us and to actually give the government more power over our lives because apparently we can't think for ourselves…”

British Lord Peter Hain has vowed to continue to “haunt” and pursue State Capture-implicated company Bain. Speaking to BizNews from the House of Lords after the British government decided not to re-suspend Bain from getting government contracts, Lord Hain says: “I would like every government in the world, because they do a lot of work for governments and the public sectors in the countries in which they operate generally, I would like them to be suspended from that work. Their global reputation is already toxic because of their complicity in this…State Capture disaster for South Africa, which set the country back so far and from which you're still trying to recover.” Lord Hain says there needs to be an admission in the business community of its culpability. “…the reason I'm so passionate about this is it wasn't just the politicians that were guilty. It takes two to tango. And it was the businesses who paid the bribes, who paid the backhanders, who did the soft audits… who did the whitewash reports…”

Nokukhanya Mntambo speaks to Tracey Davis, Executive director of Just Share about McKinsey & Co's R2 billion settlement for bribery in South Africa and concerns over its involvement in Business for South Africa (B4SA).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shota Dighmelashvili is editor-in-chief at Forbes Georgia, a policy entrepreneur and a dedicated civil society leader. His work has earned global acknowledgement, including features in renowned international outlets. ---------- LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shotad/ https://x.com/shotadig https://www.facebook.com/shotad/ https://oc-media.org/tag/shota-dighmelashvili/ https://civil.ge/archives/tag/shota-dighmelashvili ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyśl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube's algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Clement Manyathela speaks to Prof Itumeleng Mosala, the state capture secretariat at the Department of Justice who has refuted that the NPA has not been given access to the state capture database.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Corruption Watch Executive Director Karam Jeet Singh speaks to John Maytham about an agreement reached between the National Prosecution and McKinsey South Africa, which will see the company pay the state R1.1 billion for its role in state capture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mariam Kintsurashvili is a Strategic Communications expert, countering hybrid warfare. ---------- LINKS: https://x.com/kintsurashvili7 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kintsurashvili/ https://demsecinstitute.org/?page_id=371 ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyśl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube's algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Gaslit Nation is vindicated yet again. Today, The New York Times reports on Bob Woodward's latest book War, which confirms what we've been warning about since day one: Russia is infiltrating the U.S. through Trump's MAGA fascist cult. The same tactics of weaponized corruption that Paul Manafort, Trump's longtime friend and neighbor in Trump Tower, used to bring “Ukraine's Trump” Viktor Yanukovych to power are being deployed here. Ukraine has long been a testing ground for Russian aggression, and what happens there is a precursor for what Russia will try in other nations, including the U.S. This is why Ukraine's success is our own. We recorded this week's episode Tuesday morning before the publication of the report on War, which claims Trump has spoken to Putin at least seven to a dozen times since leaving office. It also reveals, unsurprisingly to Gaslit Nation listeners, that while Trump was waging war on so-called blue states—withholding life-saving supplies during the height of the pandemic—he sent Covid tests to Putin amidst a shortage of tests, further proving his fealty to the world's most sanctioned terrorist. This week, Terrell Starr reports from Berlin, Germany, a country grappling with its own MAGA crisis with the rise of the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany). We unpack why some nonwhite voters support Trump despite it being against their interests; MAGA disinformation weapon Candace Owens; and Stacey Abrams' warning that “demographics are not destiny.” We also explore how to survive the apocalypse–a time of climate crisis driven by gas station dictatorships, MAGA's Big Oil backers, and their fascist footsoldiers. In times of compounding crises and confusion, Gaslit Nation is here to help you stay grounded. This week's bonus show for subscribers at the Truth-teller level ($5/month) and higher will answer questions from our Democracy Defender subscribers ($10/month and above). We'll dive into why Louis DeJoy remains in power and the origins of the Green Party's Kremlin cicada, Jill Stein. Tune in Saturday morning for that! Thank you to everyone who supports the show–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: Reform the Electoral College https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2024/5/28/reform-the-electoral-college Sister District x Gaslit Nation GOTV Phonebank! https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/ Book Raises Unverified Claims About Trump's Ties to Putin The journalist Bob Woodward cited an unnamed aide saying that Donald J. Trump had spoken to Vladimir V. Putin as many as seven times since leaving office. Multiple sources say they cannot confirm that report. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/08/us/politics/trump-putin-woodward-book.html Ron DeSantis Not Relying on FEMA As Florida Braces for Hurricane Milton https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desalts-not-relying-fema-hurricane-milton-1965526 Come As You Are Weekly Political Salons! Join us every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! Let's share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and help shape Gaslit Nation. Everyone's voice matters—whether you're a political junkie or just finding your voice, you belong here! Recordings available exclusively on Patreon.

While the GNU looks healthy more than 100 days in, the same can't be said for provincial government… Then, from Palestine to Lebanon – why President Ramaphosa believes South Africa could play an integral mediation role. Later, why Eskom's proposed tariff hikes won't address the real issue… Also, are we turning a corner in the fight against rhino poaching? And we find inspiration in the stories of 35 trailblazers under 35. But first, as pressure mounts on the ANC and President Cyril Ramaphosa to act against Justice Minister, Thembi Simelane, some are beginning to say this is all part of a ploy to halt prosecutions in the VBS and State Capture matters. Carte Blanche Website · Chat on X · Chat on Facebook

A new book Wilful Blindness: How a Criminal Network of Narcos, Tycoons and Chinese Communist Party Agents Infiltrated the West.  3rd Edition: Election Interference and Elite & State Capture.  With this week's developing/breaking news from the Hogue Inquiry.          Guests: Sam Cooper, founder TheBureau.news, author Wilfull Blindness. Independent investigative journalist.  Michel Juneau Katsuya. Former CSIS Asia Pacific bureau chief and author of Nest of Spies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast: Book Wilfull Blindness: How a Criminal Network of Narcos, Tycoons and Chinese Communist Party Agents Infiltrated the West.  3rd Edition: Election Interference and Elite & State Capture.  With this week's developing/breaking news from the Hogue Inquiry.          Guests: Sam Cooper, founder TheBureau.news, author Wilfull Blindness. Independent investigative journalist.  Michel Juneau Katsuya. Former CSIS Asia Pacific bureau chief and author of Nest of Spies The Israeli Air Force precision bombing of the Beirut headquarters of Hezbollah has resulted in the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, as confirmed by the terrorist organization. Guest: Vivian Bercovici. Former Canadian Ambassador to Israel Greg Sword of Coquitlam, B.C. is the father of 14-year-old Kamilah who died of an opioid overdose on August 20, 2022. Greg Sword told us on air a friend of Kamilah's obtained the opioid through a purchase from a drug addict who in turn had received the narcotic from a safer supply location in Vancouver. This week Greg Sword appeared as a witness before a parliamentary committee investigating the safer supply/safe injections site issue. He was, writes our guest in an NP column, treated with indifference by Liberal and NDP MPs. Guest: Adam Zivo. Column: Liberals and NDP have no time for your daughter's tragic opioid The new president of the Alberta Medical Associaton, Dr. Shelley Duggan was very blunt in her assessment of the state of healthcare in the province by saying "the Alberta healthcare system is ready to collapse beyond the point of repair anytime soon." Guest: Dr. Shelley Duggan. President. Alberta Medical Association --------------------------------------------- Host/Content Producer – Roy Green Technical Producer - Phil Figuerido  Podcast Producer - Jonathan Chung If you enjoyed the podcast, tell a friend! For more of the Roy Green Show, subscribe to the podcast! https://globalnews.ca/roygreen/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nino Kalandadze was one of our first guests on this podcast. Then, she spoke about her experience forged as a young politician while her country, Georgia, was fighting a war with Russia. In this conversation, Nino sheds light on the direction Georgian politics have taken, as a capture of state institutions is under way by interests aligned with Russia. The upcoming Parliamentary elections and the question of whether a peaceful transfer of power can occur will mark a turning point in the country's history. Nino argues her country may fall behind a new Iron Curtain, reshaping Europe's future.Recorded on 9 September 2024.Connect with Nino on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ninokalandadze. Nino recommended the book A Little History of the World by E. H. Gombrich, Yale Books. Instagram: @at.the.coalfaceAnd don't forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!Support the show

Minority in parliament accuses government of state capture following the attempt to merge the Bui Power Authority with the Volta River Authority.

In his weekly take on political developments, United Independent Movement (UIM) President Neil de Beer slams the “cabal of people now cohorting into a public political party (MK) in Parliament”. He describes Jacob Zuma, Brian Molefe, Andile Mngxitama, Siyabonga Gama, Floyd Shivambu, Dr. John Hlope, Lucky Montana, and Mzwanele Manyi as among “the most unscrupulous accused people that harm this country on all levels of State Capture, SOE collapse, and debatably the country's collapse”. “That's your 10 Most Wanted poster right there.” As for the defection of Shivambu to MK from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), De Beer says: “This was orchestrated, is orchestrated and planned.” Describing the battle to prosecute those fingered by the Zondo Commission, he points out: “We spent billions on the Zondo Commission, three years, more than 16 volumes and…some of them are sitting in MK.” De Beer also dissects the latest coalition dramas between the Democratic Alliance (DA) and other parties in metros and municipalities. He further gives his take on what Elon Musk might have gained from his X interview with former US President Donald Trump. And he analyses the bold moves to self-sufficiency by Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré who has turned down help from both the West and the East.

What's on the cards for the Johannesburg metro after years of pillage? Daily Maverick Associate Editor Feria Haffajee weighs in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

When Nelson Mandela and the ANC delivered South Africa from Apartheid in the 90s, hopes were high that the country could become a beacon of freedom and fairness. A generation later, those dreams lie in tatters. Elites have plundered state coffers to the tune of billions, mines have been taken over by illegal “chancers,” and the ghettoes of South Africa's largest city, Cape Town, are suffering levels of violence unseen since segregation. Left with few opportunities, corrupt cops and hundreds of gangs, locals have turned to private security firms, the country's new boom trade. Others have thrown up roadblocks and christened whip-wielding vigilante groups, as the country descends into ever more hellish levels of organized crime. NEW MERCH: https://underworldpodcast.myshopify.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Batu Kutelia has over a decade of experience in international relations, and currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He is a former Ambassador to the USA and former Head of Georgia's Foreign Intelligence Service. He is a member of the board at the Atlantic Council of Georgia and Professor at the Alte University, Tbilisi, Georgia. He was co-author and TV co-host of the Foreign Affairs talk show at the Mtavari TV in 2020-2021. He is frequent contributor to the major national and international TV, printed and online media on the issues of national and international security, Russian hybrid warfare, defense and security sector reform and policies. ---------- LINKS: https://x.com/bkutelia https://www.linkedin.com/in/batu-kutelia-95733584/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batu_Kutelia https://www.fpri.org/contributor/batu-kutelia/ https://www.mccaininstitute.org/programs/leadership-programs/mccain-global-leaders/ngl/batu-kutelia/ https://cepa.org/author/batu-kutelia/ ---------- ARTICLES: https://kyivindependent.com/author/batu-kutelia/ https://kyivindependent.com/kutelia-sikharulidze-ending-putins-wars-dont-forget-georgia/ https://warontherocks.com/2024/05/rewind-and-reconnoiter-americas-vital-interests-in-georgia-with-batu-kutelia-shota-gvineria-and-david-h-ucko/ https://cepa.org/article/georgia-first-victim-of-russias-war-on-democracy/ https://ip-quarterly.com/en/georgias-fate-will-be-decided-kyiv https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/opinion/russias-inevitable-collapse/ https://www.fpri.org/article/2020/10/georgias-parliamentary-elections-and-the-problem-of-oligarchic-rule/ https://www.the-american-interest.com/2020/01/31/state-capture-in-the-caucasus/ ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyśl https://kharpp.com/ Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine Ukrainian Freedom News https://www.ukrainianfreedomnews.com/donation/ UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube's algorithm. Our material is now being made available

South Africa urgently needs ethical leadership to heal a divided nation. That has been the call from business icon Professor Bonang Mohale, who is on an international list of the 100 most reputable Africans. In this interview with BizNews, Professor Mohale warns the new Government of National Unity (GNU) that leadership is “not an opportunity for enriching self”. He slams the lack of prosecutions of corrupt politicians and concludes “that there is no political will” and that “maybe, just maybe, the people who call themselves our leaders are accepting that stealing, cheating, bribery, State Capture is their form and definition of redistribution of wealth”. Asked about the Steinhoff scandal, he also slams big business for introducing corruption to local politicians as far back as former President Nelson Mandela's release from prison. And, as a former Chairman of Shell - that is now disinvesting from South Africa - he describes how there was “absolutely no progress” on a multi-billion rand intiatiave “because of ideology that held us hostage”. Setting out the priorities for the GNU, Professor Mohale says: “Service delivery is the job description of these politicians.”

As GNU talks continue, SAHRC appeals for a human rights-centred focus.Other organisations, such as the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, call for parties to focus on the interests of South Africans before their own.ATM files papers with the Electoral Court, calling for the court's due consideration of misconduct allegations against the Chairperson of the IEC.Tshidi Madia sat down with outgoing Public Enterprise Minister Pravin Gordhan for a candid interview on his life and times as a political activist and serving in government. He reflects on the lessons that can be learned from the 1994 Interim Constitution and the formation of CODESA. He speaks about the ‘State Capture' years and their work in recapting and reforming the state.Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla held a media briefing to update the public on the outbreak of Mpox disease and outline plans by the department in collaboration with various stakeholders in the sector to curb further spread and prevent mortality.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Fabio talks to Dee Smythe (UCT honorary), Michelle Leroux (UCT and Wits), and Dennis Davis (UCT Emeritus). Fabio and his guests focus mostly on the piece that the latter wrote for the PAL project, titled “What Future for Constitutional Democracy in South Africa?,” which was published in 2022, in VRÜ/World Comparative Law. That piece argues that “state capture” by sectors of the African National Congress, so-far the dominant party in South African politics, is at the center of the country's ongoing democratic crisis. The main victim of this particular form of democratic decay is not just the ideal of liberal-democratic governance, based on separation of powers and accountability, but also – and perhaps more importantly – the promise of deep societal transformation that came along with South Africa's constitution, enacted after the end of apartheid. Fabio and his guests then spend time unpacking an intriguing feature of democratic decay in South Africa: the “capture of tradition” or the cooptation and repurposing of “traditional leaders” by Zuma to build a more robust scheme of unaccountable governance. They finish with a discussion about the extent to which South African institutions have demonstrated resilience against this “capture,” as well as about the hopes and fears of interviewees regarding the upcoming South African elections. Link to the VRÜ/World Comparative Law special issue: https://www.nomos-elibrary.de/10.5771/0506-7286-2022-4/vrue-verfassung-und-recht-in-uebersee-jahrgang-55-2022-heft-4?page=1

Peace talks between Nedbank and Transnet about state capture claims collapse. Transnet is insisting that Nedbank accept it acted in a corrupt manner regarding interest-rate swap transactions that took place in 2015 and 2016  GUEST:  Garth Theunissen | News24 Business Journalist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this latest chapter on state capture, Ketakandriana Rafitoson (Vice-Chair, Transparency International; Executive Director of Transparency International Initiative Madagascar) outlines how this problem manifests in Madagascar and the harms caused. She speaks to Tom Shipley (Researcher, Centre for the Study of Corruption) about how state capture has unfolded in key sectors, including in the exploitation of natural resources, and the role that international firms and states have played. Ketakandriana also describes the innovative approaches civil society have taken to fighting back against networks of corrupt actors. Further information on the case in the lychee sector mentioned by Ketakandriana can be found here, https://www.transparency.mg/telechargements/assainir-la-gouvernance-de-la-filiere-litchi-afin-den-exploiter-pleinement-le-potentiel/ The report on international enablers, 'loophole masters' can be found here, https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/loophole-masters

In "How to Fix (Unfxck) a Country," economist Dr. Roy Havemann unveils a roadmap to reboot South Africa post-State Capture. Through his exploration of the six fundamental "E's" – Eskom, Education, Environment, Exports, Equality, and Ethics – Havemann offers practical strategies gleaned from global experiences. Drawing from consultations with esteemed entities, he illustrates how nations rebounded from crises, advocating for swift governmental action. This insightful interview with BizNews charts a path for South Africa's transformation into a powerhouse.

Tento díl není veselý, ale stále zbývá HOPE!Speciální díl, věnovaný situatci na Slovensku, které jsme věnovali v epizodách na herohero a zejména naši slovenští posluchači nás žádali o možnost sdílet tyto epizody se svými blízkými, kamarády a kolegy. Na podzim tam vyhrál volby Robert Fico, který spolu s ruskou pátou kolonou sestavil vládu a dal se do demontáže demokratického právního státu. Následovaly prezidentské volby, ve kterých zvítězil vládní kandidát Peter Pellegrini. A proto jsme se rozhodli udělat souhrn toho, co se na Slovensku v posledních měsících stalo a co lze celkem jasně označit za tzv. State capture, tedy zabrání státu, konkrétně Ruskem a to nevojenskými prostředky. Pokládáme to za důležité nejen proto, že se to stalo u našich nám nejbližších sousedů, ale zejména proto, že se to může stát za rok a půl i nám. Užitečné odkazy:Výzkum Globsec, podle kterého by většina slováků klidně vystoupila za NATOFicovy vazby na italskou mafii (investigace_cz, sme_sk, idnes_cz)O propojení italské a ruské mafieJak Zeman jezdil na Rhodos za peníze KremluFico šíří proruskou propagandu už hodně dlouhoProč musel zemřít Jan Kuciak?Fico sice ujistil Shmyhala, ale to je úplně jednoAnne Applebaum o autoritářích, kteří chtějí zničit demokracieInterview Lucie Tomanové s Janisem Carlsbergem, vedoucím centra pro strategickou komunikaci NATOSlovenský “Dárek pro Putina”Podpořte Project HOPE Tomáše Kriššáka!Podpořte nás na https://www.herohero.co/kanarcivsiti . A nebo si kupte naše trička na https://www.neverenough.shop/kanarci . Podcast pro Vás připravují @alexalvarova a @holyj . Hudba a sound engineering: Psyek a deafmutedrecords.com . Twitter Spaces moderuje @jiribulan .Najdete nás na www.kanarci.online

In this session we talk to Karyn Maughan, News24 journalist about media round table that the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv Shamila Batohi, and the NPA Executive Committee had talking about the NPA's priorities and strategic initiatives including some of the challenges that NPA is faced with when it comes to pursuing people who were involved in State Capture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Cyril Ramaphosa does not even know where the Guptas are. That is the riposte from  Glynnis Breytenbach, the Democratic Alliance's Shadow Minister of Justice, to the National Prosecuting Authority (NP) calling in the help of the President to try and fast track the extradition from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of the Guptas. As for the few billion of State Capture loot recovered so far by the NPA, Breytenbach says “it's not even a drop in the ocean of the trillions and trillions and trillions of rands that we were robbed of - and that government officials and cabinet members assisted crooks to steal from us”.  She calls the close to 700 government officials thus far convicted of corruption “petty thieves” - and says “we need to see people at the top of the scale who stole at a breathtaking pace, held to account”. She also gives an update on the proposed establishment of DA-driven Anti Corruption Commission where prosecutors will have “no fear that their work will be undone by a bunch of politicians who don't like being held accountable”.

Richard Goldstone, former Justice of the Constitutional Court in South Africa and vice-chair of Integrity Initiatives International (III), stressed the imperative for global action against grand corruption, emphasizing the International Anti- Corruption Court as a vital tool to combat kleptocracy and State Capture worldwide.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Serame Taukobong, group CEO at Telkom tells Ray White about the decision behind the sale of their subsidiary Swiftnet for R6.75 billion. Swiftnet, is a key player in the South African market, owning around 4000 installations of masts, towers and leases co-location space to major mobile network operators.   Prof Jan Havenga, logistics Professor at Stellenbosch University explains to Ray White why South Africans and corporates should be held liable for Transnet's mismanagement and be twice billed for its state capture.     Debbie Hathway, watches and jewellery writer on green dial watches and why they are the hottest thing right now on our Friday File.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prof Jan Havenga, Logistics Professor at Stellenbosch University, explains to Ray White why South Africans and corporates should be held liable for Transnet's mismanagement and be twice billed for its state capture.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa's Civil Society demands actions against state capture by Radio Islam

Lauren is a legal scholar in constitutional and administrative law at the University of Cape Town, an attorney of the high court and the founder of www.SALegalAdvice.com. She joins John to express the view that, although state capture vividly demonstrates how private greed can outweigh the public good - it seems that there are also elements of potential progress.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continuing our chapter on kleptocracy and state capture, this episode features Sankhitha Gunaratne, Deputy Executive Director of Transparency International Sri Lanka. She speaks to Liz David-Barrett (Centre for the Study of Corruption) about TI's work to combat state capture in the country. The recent economic crisis in Sri Lanka has laid bare the extent to which kleptocratic actors have captured key pillars of the state. Sankhitha describes the different tactics used, including the suppression of accountability institutions and militarisation of key government positions. She then outlines TI's response, which has included the use of strategic litigation and leveraging the influence of international financial institutions. There are lots of lessons here for understanding how state capture develops and how it is possible to fight back.

Nic Carter is a Partner at Castle Island Ventures & Lane Rettig is a core developer for Spacemesh. In this interview, we discuss the Ethereum merge specifically addressing the issue around increasing censorship of Ethereum transactions, the chilling state attacks on privacy and what Bitcoiners could learn. - - - - In November 2013 Vitalik Buterin produced the Ethereum White Paper, which set out that Ethereum was to utilise the Proof of Work mechanism to facilitate participation in the transaction validation process. Eight months later, hidden away in the announcement about the Ether ICO, Vitalik stated that “We may choose later on to adopt alternative consensus strategies, such as hybrid proof of stake…”. Ethereum's merge in the first 2 weeks of September has been the biggest event in crypto this year. Part of the reason is that it has been a very long time coming. Further, it has been a huge engineering challenge: transitioning from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake in a live blockchain for the second-largest digital currency. Many predicted that it would result in technical issues. They were wrong. The merge was a success. And yet, in the months that have followed, events have shown that just as Ethereum has sought to resolve some issues, it has caused others. Yes, Ethereum now uses significantly less energy, albeit a smaller drop in energy consumption than they would have many believe. But, evidence of a concerning concentration of staked ETH indicates that not only is the consensus becoming centralised, but it is becoming dominated by entities who are censoring transactions. The result is a very clear distinction between Bitcoin and Ethereum. The issue at hand for Bitcoiners is that the battle to win the argument with political decision-makers over the importance of Bitcoin's energy usage is still yet to be won. But, more importantly, there are downstream centralisation and capture risks for Bitcoin. Forewarned is forearmed.

“You could describe Proof of Stake in two words: shareholders vote. And guess what, that is how the world works already… I want to build a system that at least has the potential to be democratising, and move towards decentralisation, censorship resistance, these properties that we care so much about; and I think Proof of Stake is a huge step in the wrong direction.”— Lane RettigNic Carter is a Partner at Castle Island Ventures & Lane Rettig is a core developer for Spacemesh. In this interview, we discuss the Ethereum merge specifically addressing the issue around increasing censorship of Ethereum transactions, the chilling state attacks on privacy and what Bitcoiners could learn. - - - - In November 2013 Vitalik Buterin produced the Ethereum White Paper, which set out that Ethereum was to utilise the Proof of Work mechanism to facilitate participation in the transaction validation process. Eight months later, hidden away in the announcement about the Ether ICO, Vitalik stated that “We may choose later on to adopt alternative consensus strategies, such as hybrid proof of stake…”. Ethereum's merge in the first 2 weeks of September has been the biggest event in crypto this year. Part of the reason is that it has been a very long time coming. Further, it has been a huge engineering challenge: transitioning from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake in a live blockchain for the second-largest digital currency. Many predicted that it would result in technical issues. They were wrong. The merge was a success.And yet, in the months that have followed, events have shown that just as Ethereum has sought to resolve some issues, it has caused others. Yes, Ethereum now uses significantly less energy, albeit a smaller drop in energy consumption than they would have many believe. But, evidence of a concerning concentration of staked ETH indicates that not only is the consensus becoming centralised, but it is becoming dominated by entities who are censoring transactions.The result is a very clear distinction between Bitcoin and Ethereum. The issue at hand for Bitcoiners is that the battle to win the argument with political decision-makers over the importance of Bitcoin's energy usage is still yet to be won. But, more importantly, there are downstream centralisation and capture risks for Bitcoin. Forewarned is forearmed.- - - - This episode's sponsors:Gemini - Buy Bitcoin instantlyLedn - Financial services for Bitcoin hodlersBitcasino - The Future of Gaming is herePacific Bitcoin - Bitcoin‑only event, Nov 10 & 11, 2022Ledger - State of the art Bitcoin hardware walletWasabi Wallet - Privacy by defaultTexas Blockchain Summit - Nov 17-18, 2022 | Austin, TexasBCB Group - Global digital financial Services-----WBD575 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.