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The Lead

News24
South Africa
Corruption
Democratic Alliance
Johannesburg
ANC
Donald Trump
Cyril Ramaphosa
Madlanga Commission
South African Police Service
United States
African National Congress
Paul Mashatile
Political Killings Task Team
Cape Town
Springboks
Bafana Bafana
News24
Senzo Mchunu
Vusimusi Cat Matlala
Mpho Mafole

Seasoned broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer brings you The Lead, News24's definitive podcast for in-depth reporting. Join us every Monday and Wednesday at 19:00 SAST for candid conversations with our top journalists, and discover what they saw, heard, and uncovered in their relentless pursuit of the big story. Episodes drop on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube like clockwork. WhatsApp: 07... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes225Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Latest Episodes

With the clock ticking on the 30 June “deadline” set by anti-migrant groups, will peace prevail as marchers take to the streets this Tuesday? With so many foreigners queuing up in Durban and other parts of the country, to somehow find a way home, wha... more

In a preview for the November municipal polls, the people of Beverly Hills in Evaton in the Vaal municipal district of Emfuleni are voting for a new ward councillor this Wednesday. This outcome may not change much, though, argues roving journalist Nt... more

In this edition, The Lead returns to the Bellville South house of horrors with News24 court and crime journalist, Lisalee Solomons. She reports that 63-year-old Aletta Rose, the murder convict accused of decapitating her Cape Town sister in March, ha... more

The licence to operate the Lotto is about to change hands to Sizekhaya Holdings, not without claims of alleged misconduct by those left out of the ultra-lucrative tender. The man steering that outfit is Moses Tembe, a figure who's in business with at... more

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Recent Guests

Ntwagaae Seleka
Roving journalist with News24
News24
Episode: Emfuleni’s by-election won’t fix its worsening service delivery crisis
Lisalee Solomons
News24 court and crime journalist
News24
Episode: Return to the Bellville South house of horrors
Tankiso Makhetha
Senior journalist
News24
Episode: OR Tambo gold bust haunts SAPS major generals. Plus: Cape storm wrap
Caterina Moser
Journalist freelancing with News24
News24
Episode: AI ‘hallucinations’ spark credibility crisis in SA policy
Yohan Furey
Economic historian
Stellenbosch University
Episode: AI ‘hallucinations’ spark credibility crisis in SA policy
Jan Cronje
News24 business journalist
News24 Investigations
Episode: Media storm as SIU probes lottery funds linked to editor
Azarrah Karrim
Investigative journalist
News24
Episode: Dark clouds gather over SA’s largest solar project, with Azarrah Karrim
Herman Mashaba
Former mayor of Johannesburg, founder of ActionSA
ActionSA
Episode: Herman Mashaba on refusing to work with Zille, declining a Cabinet post
Pieter du Toit
Investigations editor, fellow history buff
News24 Investigations
Episode: What will it take for Roelf Meyer to bend Donald Trump’s ear?

Host

Graeme Raubenheimer
Host of The Lead, versatile broadcast journalist covering crime, politics, and governance.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 125 ratings
  • Meh

    I was very excited to find a home grown serious news podcast, but if you want to be take seriously you can't just use it to give Basson airtime to blather. You have great journos with interesting things to say, please use them.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    bbjfvbhfxvbk?);:,$&(( b
    South Africaa year ago
  • Misinformation

    Just another way to spread misinformation by a formerly independent media company that supports expropriation without compensation and state capture.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    pjnel
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate rigorous, on-the-ground reporting and strong journalist expertise.
Some critics feel the platform gives airtime to controversial figures, which can polarize listeners.
Quality of guests and depth of investigations are frequently highlighted as strengths.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#39
South Africa/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Emfuleni’s by-election won’t fix its worsening service delivery crisis
Q: Is Beverly Hills like that fame? The US suburb, does it look the same?
Ntwagaae observes that Beverly Hills in Emfuleni has deteriorated considerably, with squalor replacing the once-beautiful area, suggesting a stark contrast to any idea of fame associated with the name.
Return to the Bellville South house of horrors
Q: What are the key legal hurdles in Aletta Rose's bail proceedings, and how have prior convictions influenced perceptions of her case?
Her previous murder conviction and the complexity of proving exceptional circumstances for bail, along with language and representation issues, have heavily influenced the bail process and public scrutiny.
Return to the Bellville South house of horrors
Q: What sparked the renewed interest in the case in March and how did it unfold in the courtroom?
The discovery of the beheaded Constance Scaltz, followed by Aletta Rose's arrest and a series of dramatic court appearances, reignited public and media interest and shaped the ongoing bail discussions.
Your ultimate Phala Phala couch catch-up
Q: What does the legal landscape look like for the impeachment process now that the Constitutional Court has weighed in?
The hosts indicate that impeachment must proceed under the court's ruling, with Parliament's rules being challenged as unconstitutional, which could lead to a televised impeachment committee process and a formal hearing.
Your ultimate Phala Phala couch catch-up
Q: Kyle, how's it going with this story and what makes IPID's findings particularly consequential?
Kyle Cowan explains that IPID's findings illuminate the off-the-books elements and a possible cover-up, and they provide a broader context for the Namibia trip and the security services' role, which could affect ongoing legal and impeachment timelines.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Lead

What is The Lead about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show leans into rigorous, on-the-ground reporting and deep investigations across South Africa's news, governance, and policy landscape. Episodes frequently dissect high-stakes topics—from court cases and municipal finance to national energy projects and policy drafting—through interviews with veteran journalists and expert guests. A standout pattern is meticulous sourcing and data-driven context, often linking political networks to public-interest outcomes. Listeners can expect thorough, long-form storytelling that blends live reporting, historical context, and accountability-oriented analysis, with a clear emphasis on transparency and public oversight.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Lead?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Lead. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Lead and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Lead get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Lead?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Lead, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Lead have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Lead 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 The Lead?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Lead:

1. SMWX
2. BizNews Radio
3. MoneywebNOW
4. The Money Show
5. Global News Podcast

How many episodes of The Lead are there?

The Lead launched a year ago and published 225 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 The Lead?

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 The Lead?

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

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Lead. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Lead?

Recent guests on The Lead include:

1. Ntwagaae Seleka
2. Lisalee Solomons
3. Tankiso Makhetha
4. Caterina Moser
5. Yohan Furey
6. Jan Cronje
7. Azarrah Karrim
8. Herman Mashaba

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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