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Artwork for Democracy Unplugged

Democracy Unplugged

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

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
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for Democracy Unplugged

Latest Episodes

In this episode we bring together political leaders and commentators for an unfiltered discussion on one of South Africa's most pressing and divisive issues; illegal immigration and its ripple effect on governance, crime, economic growth, and the fut... more

Are we paying enough attention to the warning signs? With

crime, protest, poverty, and public trust being increasingly

intertwined, Phumi Mashigo speaks to two experts to unpack what's

driving tensions, political and otherwise, and what can be don... more

YouTube

What does Johannesburg need most right now? Better

management, bold ideas, or both? Phumi Mashigo speaks with Nobuntu

Hlazo-Webster about her journey into politics, her plans to restore

confidence in city governance, and what a Build One South Afr... more

YouTube

Can a nation built on freedom still be grappling with who

truly belongs? As the United States marks 250 years of independence,

Phumi Mashigo unpacks the promises and contradictions that have shaped

the American story. She is joined by Charles Belk... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster
Build One South Africa candidate for executive mayor of Johannesburg
Build One South Africa
Episode: Is JHB ready for new leadership? With Build One SA’s Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster
Charles Belk
Retired Hollywood producer and marketing executive who started a movement to automatically expunge wrongful arrest records
Independent activist/advocate
Episode: What Does America’s 250th Anniversary Really Mean?
Rebone Tau
Political analyst
Independent analyst / political commentator
Episode: The Illegal Immigration Tipping Point with Rebone Tau
Patrick Motubase
Leader/figure within the MK Party, discussed as guest in the interview
MK Party
Episode: Politics, Labour and Leadership with MK Party's Patrick Motubase
Sthembile Nkosi
Representative from Unkond OSC
Unkond OSC
Episode: Inherited freedom or unfinished business?
Wade Manning
Representative from Defend Our Democracy
Defend Our Democracy
Episode: Inherited freedom or unfinished business?
Lawrence Manaka
Representative from RISE Mzansi
RISE Mzansi
Episode: Inherited freedom or unfinished business?
Kotlwano Seloane
Youth Regional Secretary, Patriotic Alliance
Patriotic Alliance
Episode: Inherited freedom or unfinished business?
Advice Chuma
Member of Action SA
Action SA
Episode: Inherited freedom or unfinished business?

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#81
South Africa/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#196
South Africa/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Illegal Immigration Tipping Point with Rebone Tau
Q: What role do local municipalities and by-laws play in managing migrant issues and urban services?
The guest points to municipal enforcement, by-laws, and accountability (e.g., in Ekurhuleni), noting the tension between border control, resource allocation, and ensuring service delivery to residents and lawful occupants.
The Illegal Immigration Tipping Point with Rebone Tau
Q: How do you see the balance between rights-based civil society activism and enforcement against illegal migration in the current climate?
Tau emphasizes the need to differentiate between illegal and legal migrants, highlight international norms, and address systemic issues in governance and policing to prevent vigilantism while protecting citizens' rights.
The Illegal Immigration Tipping Point with Rebone Tau
Q: What is your view two days after the June 30 deadline, and was it a win for the government or for civil society?
The discussion suggests the deadline shifted the government's timeline and energized civil society, with ongoing calls for accountability and a more effective enforcement framework, while recognizing the deep-rooted social and economic factors at play.
Can the Constitution Still Save South Africa?
Q: How has the Constitutional Court influenced daily life and the protection of rights beyond traditional civil liberties?
The Court has interpreted rights broadly to include socioeconomic guarantees like housing, food, and education, and its landmark rulings—backed by civil society activism—have directly improved access to essential services and health outcomes, showcasing the constitution's life-and-death impact.
Can the Constitution Still Save South Africa?
Q: What explains the ongoing gap between the promise of the constitution and the lived reality of many South Africans?
The gap stems from a combination of limited public awareness of constitutional rights, cost and complexity of accessing the courts, and political leadership that sometimes shifts blame onto the constitution itself rather than addressing governance and implementation failures.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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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 series centers on deep-dive conversations about democratic governance, policy, and social issues in a contemporary context. Episodes typically pair policymakers, activists, and thought leaders with researchers and practitioners to unpack how institutions function, how power is exercised, and how ordinary citizens can engage more effectively. Topics frequently span constitutional rights, education policy, housing and urban development, public health, budget trade-offs, and the mechanics of electoral participation. A notable strength is the panel format that balances critical analysis with accessible storytelling, often foregrounding voices from civil society, frontline communities, and local government. The show frequently features cros... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Democracy Unplugged?

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How many listeners does Democracy Unplugged get?

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What are the audience demographics for Democracy Unplugged?

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How many subscribers and views does Democracy Unplugged have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Democracy Unplugged has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Democracy Unplugged?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Democracy Unplugged:

1. The Gareth Cliff Show
2. BizNews Radio
3. The Money Show
4. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
5. SMWX

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Democracy Unplugged?

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

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Democracy Unplugged?

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What guests have appeared on Democracy Unplugged?

Recent guests on Democracy Unplugged include:

1. Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster
2. Charles Belk
3. Rebone Tau
4. Patrick Motubase
5. Sthembile Nkosi
6. Wade Manning
7. Lawrence Manaka
8. Kotlwano Seloane

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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