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Artwork for Democracy Unplugged

Democracy Unplugged

Podcast Party
South Africa
African National Congress
South African Elections
Corruption
Democratic Alliance
South African Politics
Independent Candidates
Basic Income Grant
Economic Growth
Freedom Front Plus
ANC
Crime
The Israel-Palestine Conflict
Jacob Zuma
Inkatha Freedom Party
Elections
Unemployment
Coalitions
African National Congress (ANC)
Patriotic Alliance

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

In this episode, Phumi sits down with a parliamentarian to unpack the real impact of the bill, from controversial definitions of “smoking” to the unintended consequences for informal traders and the economy.

They discuss:

Why smokers could tech... more

What do young South Africans really want from politics today? Recorded live at University of Johannesburg, Phumi Mashigo places students at the centre of the national conversation. Lehumo Dibakoane (UJ SRC President), Donald Mkhwanazi (Student leader... more

YouTube

A loaf of bread can feed a family for a day - but can it fix a broken political system? A video showing people wearing African National Congress (ANC) regalia distributing loaves of bread to residents with the phrase ‘one loaf, one family - there is ... more

YouTube

What really drives South Africa’s illegal mining crisis, and how does this impact you? Phumi Mashigo investigates the complex world of so-called “zama zama” miners and the forces that keep the underground economy alive. She is joined by guests Sabelo... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Mr. Vuyozungulu
ATM parliament member
African Transformation Movement
Episode: Tobacco Bill Chaos: You Could Be Arrested for Smoking in Your Own Car
Donald Mkhwanazi
Student activist and SRC member
UJ/WITS student leadership
Episode: What matters to South Africa’s youth?
Angelic Mafadza
Voice of WITS / student leader
University of the Witwatersrand
Episode: What matters to South Africa’s youth?
Lehumo Dibakoane
SRC president
University SRC leadership
Episode: What matters to South Africa’s youth?
Prince Bia
Voters' Voice party member / youth political participant
Voters' Voice party
Episode: What matters to South Africa’s youth?
Kwakanya Duma
Arts and theatre practitioner, engaged in politics
Independent, arts & performance
Episode: What matters to South Africa’s youth?
Gamolo Chauke
VITS education student
VITS Education student
Episode: What matters to South Africa’s youth?
Tsepo Mhlongo
Gauteng provincial leader, Build One South Africa (BoSA)
Build One South Africa
Episode: A loaf of bread and a broken political system... with Build One South Africa's Tsepo Mhlongo
Kgothatso Nhlengetwa
Artisanal mining practitioner and small-scale mining services entrepreneur
Artisanal mining community network in SA
Episode: South Africa’s illegal mining crisis, and why you should care about this

Hosts

Justice
Host of Democracy Unplugged
Phumi Mashigo
Host of The Burning Platform and related show segments; moderator and panel host across episodes

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#66
South Africa/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#229
South Africa/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tobacco Bill Chaos: You Could Be Arrested for Smoking in Your Own Car
Q: What is the real-world impact of these amendments on ordinary South Africans?
The amendments could restrict everyday commerce in townships, criminalize everyday behaviors like holding a tobacco product, and push informal sellers out of display spaces, hurting livelihoods and potentially increasing illicit trade.
Tobacco Bill Chaos: You Could Be Arrested for Smoking in Your Own Car
Q: What is ATM's position on the current form of the tobacco bill and its amendments?
ATM argues the bill is irrational, overly broad, and focused on the 30% compliant market while neglecting the 70% illicit market; they want NETLAC inputs and a shift toward practical enforcement and protecting ordinary smokers.
Inside SA's budget choices
Q: How has food inflation affected family behaviors?
Families prioritize costs for transport, electricity, and debt servicing over food, leading to reduced quantity and quality of food consumed.
Inside SA's budget choices
Q: What would a food secure budget actually look like?
A food secure budget should invest in smallholder farmers and prioritize local food production over commercial agriculture.
Inside SA's budget choices
Q: What should people be listening out for when the minister speaks next week?
People will be looking for measures to stimulate the economy and improve social spending, like increasing the child support grant.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Democracy Unplugged

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

This program centers on democracy, governance, and public policy in a South African context, with episodes that dissect budget debates, health care funding, water and infrastructure challenges, education, and the machinery of lawmaking. Across recent episodes, listeners are treated to panel discussions, expert perspectives, and accountability-driven conversations about how policy choices translate into everyday outcomes—from fiscal austerity and social protection to service delivery, corruption, and the role of coalitions in government. A notable pattern is the willingness of guests to challenge official narratives, scrutinize funding priorities, and explore practical reforms in health, education, and public administration, often with an em... 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. On The Bounce
3. BizNews Radio
4. History of South Africa podcast
5. The Daily Friend Show

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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Democracy Unplugged from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Democracy Unplugged?

Recent guests on Democracy Unplugged include:

1. Mr. Vuyozungulu
2. Donald Mkhwanazi
3. Angelic Mafadza
4. Lehumo Dibakoane
5. Prince Bia
6. Kwakanya Duma
7. Gamolo Chauke
8. Tsepo Mhlongo

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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