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Democracy Unplugged

Podcast Party
South Africa
Johannesburg
ANC
African National Congress
Corruption
Unemployment
Democratic Alliance
Service Delivery
Democracy
Cyril Ramaphosa
Coalition Government
South African Police Service
South African Politics
Local Government
Economic Growth
Israel
State Of the Nation Address
Immigration
Informal Economy
African National Congress (ANC)

Democracy Unplugged brings together thought leaders, activists and influencers to untangle the threads of democratic principles, dissect current challenges, and envision what our future could look like. Join the conversation as our panels delve into current affairs, political dynamics and social issues.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes150Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Democracy Unplugged

Latest Episodes

The votes have been cast, the results are coming in. But what do they actually mean for your everyday life? Beyond the political wins, losses and negotiations, the outcome of South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections could have implications for ... more

YouTube

What really happens behind the scenes in South African

politics? And how much of what we see is politics as usual, and how much

is political performance? Phumi Mashigo sits down with TJ Masilela, host

of Palatable Politics, to unpack the inner wor... more

As South Africa heads towards the 2026 local government elections, Siya Sangweni brings political parties in Cape Town together for one last, important conversation before voters head to the polls.

What are they promising voters, and what will tho... more

YouTube

What do the numbers tell us about Johannesburg’s local elections? Political and economic analyst Paul Berkowitz joins Phumi Mashigo to unpack the data behind the upcoming local elections. Together they explore what the numbers could mean for Johannes... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

David Ansara
Free Market Foundation representative discussing voting and civic responsibility
Free Market Foundation
Episode: How will the local government election results affect you?
Lee Dupree
Founder and managing director of PEE Innovation
PEE Innovation
Episode: How will the local government election results affect you?
TJ Masilela
Host of Palatable Politics and ANC member with experience working in party structures
Palatable Politics
Episode: Power behind closed doors - TJ Masilela on South African politics
Musa Joshua Mohlala
Religious leader and Afrika Mayibuye Movement representative
Afrika Mayibuye Movement
Episode: Power, Promises & the People - Local Government Elections 2026
Kerryn Rehse
Researcher, policy specialist and advocacy specialist with Build One South Africa
Build One South Africa
Episode: Power, Promises & the People - Local Government Elections 2026
Khalid Sayed
African National Congress representative
African National Congress
Episode: Power, Promises & the People - Local Government Elections 2026
Brett Herron
GOOD Party mayoral candidate for the City of Cape Town
GOOD Party
Episode: Power, Promises & the People - Local Government Elections 2026
Paul Berkowitz
Political and economic analyst focused on election data and data visualization
South Africa Brief
Episode: How do the numbers impact your vote? Decoding the upcoming elections
Lekan Ayo-Yusuf
Public health researcher, academic and policy advocate
Professor at a university (Nigeria/South Africa)
Episode: Is Tobacco Policy Going Up in Smoke?

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#76
South Africa/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#248
South Africa/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Power behind closed doors - TJ Masilela on South African politics
Q: How do the mechanics of campaign financing work?
Masilela says campaigns are expensive, but advertising and other campaign costs may be paid later under agreements with service providers. He argues that campaign financing should be reviewed and cautions that heavy dependence on donors can expose parties to lobbying and state capture.
Power behind closed doors - TJ Masilela on South African politics
Q: What has gotten us to this point where there's just general like mayhem?
Masilela points to the ANC's use of majority numbers in choosing leaders, low participation by the general public, and the resulting concentration of political opportunity among people seeking economic advancement.
How do the numbers impact your vote? Decoding the upcoming elections
Q: Do you think the GNU coalition can save some of those hung municipalities?
Berkowitz says cooperation between major parties could be possible and that many voters want stability, but coalition success depends on parties becoming more mature and working together rather than treating political power as a share-out.
How do the numbers impact your vote? Decoding the upcoming elections
Q: What surprised you the most about what you were seeing?
Berkowitz says larger parties were also placing candidates across multiple wards, while some smaller parties entered genuine local candidates in fewer wards. He describes duplicate nominations as a way to maximize party-vote totals.
Power, Promises & the People - Local Government Elections 2026
Q: How are you going to manage the phenomenon of human migration?
Brett Herron says migration is a wider urbanization challenge, and cities should supplement national housing programs by using public land, their balance sheets and long-term financing to build housing.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Democracy Unplugged

What is Democracy Unplugged about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on politics, governance, and social issues in South Africa and beyond, featuring a revolving lineup of politicians, analysts, activists, and policy experts. Episodes frequently tackle migration and xenophobia, urban governance, coalition politics, democratic institutions, and the future of South Africa's economy and education system. A notable throughline is how policy, public opinion, and civil society intersect to shape democratic outcomes, with conversations that range from local governance and municipal reform to national narratives about leadership and rights. The program often presents multiple perspectives, including party critique, civil society insight, and policy-driven analysis, making it a strong fit for listen... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Democracy Unplugged?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Democracy Unplugged:

1. The Gareth Cliff Show
2. The Gareth Cliff Daily Briefing
3. SMWX
4. The Daily Friend Show
5. The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

How many episodes of Democracy Unplugged are there?

Democracy Unplugged launched 2 years ago and published 150 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Democracy Unplugged?

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What guests have appeared on Democracy Unplugged?

Recent guests on Democracy Unplugged include:

1. David Ansara
2. Lee Dupree
3. TJ Masilela
4. Musa Joshua Mohlala
5. Kerryn Rehse
6. Khalid Sayed
7. Brett Herron
8. Paul Berkowitz

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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