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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
Vusimusi Cat Matlala
Springboks
Bafana Bafana
Senzo Mchunu
News24
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

PublishesDailyEpisodes223Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for The Lead

Latest Episodes

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

President Cyril Ramaphosa reckons he's got a fair chance of challenging an independent panel's findings that he may have broken the law in relation to the 2020 theft of a large sum of money from a couch based at his Phala Phala game lodge. But this “... more

We kick off this news week with two more senior police figures in the dock, this time facing serious charges in connection with a peculiar unwrought gold bust at OR Tambo International Airport about five years ago. Major Generals Feroz Khan and Ebrah... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Alex Patrick
Metro journalist for News24, frequent on-the-ground reporting
News24
Episode: Is this Jozi’s monument to poor service delivery?
Jan Cronje
News24 business journalist
News24 Investigations
Episode: Media storm as SIU probes lottery funds linked to editor
Ethan van Diemen
Resident climate journalist, News24
News24
Episode: Another multibillion-rand Chinese energy project red-flagged
Tankiso Makhetha
Journalist reporting from the court
News24/The Lead
Episode: Fannie Nkosi shares a prison with the ‘Cat’ in Pretoria
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
Broadcast journalist and host of The Lead, with extensive reporting on South African politics, crime, and public affairs.

Reviews

4.3 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.

Misinformation: a minority view accuses the outlet of enabling misinformation through perceived biases; this sentiment highlights the importance of continued editorial balance and sourcing.
Meh: listeners appreciate serious, in-depth reporting but some feel the coverage can fixate on certain figures or present limited airtime for diverse perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#68
South Africa/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
A textbook case of a problematic state publishers' deal?
Q: What has been the minister's response, and is there a risk the tender could be pulled during the Treasury probe?
The minister asked Treasury to investigate, and while the department asserts a fair process, there is ongoing scrutiny and uncertainty about whether the tender will be pulled depending on probe findings.
A textbook case of a problematic state publishers' deal?
Q: Is Lighthouse going ahead with outsourcing printing and continuing to push this catalog despite the unfolding concerns?
Govender indicates that Lighthouse claims everything is above board and that they plan to outsource printing, relying on external providers, while stressing that their submissions' quality justified their approvals.
The City of Gold is bankrupt
Q: What is the scale of the wage deal with Samu and why is it a problem for Johannesburg's finances?
The deal would raise wages for municipal workers by about 10 billion rand over two years, which the minister labels unfunded and unsustainable given the city's current revenue gaps.

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 The Lead

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

This show centers on in-depth, battle-tested reporting on South Africa's current affairs, with a focus on politics, governance, corruption investigations, and major infrastructure and policy stories. Episodes frequently feature senior journalists and researchers unpacking how power, money, and policy intersect—covering topics like public procurement, state decisions, budgetary reform, and critical national issues such as water security and crime. A notable strength is rigorous, evidence-backed discussion that connects parliamentary developments, investigative reporting, and daily realities faced by communities. The format tends to blend strong interview-driven analysis with on-the-ground reporting, making it particularly useful for listener... more

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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. The Money Show
3. BizNews Radio
4. MoneywebNOW
5. History of South Africa podcast

How many episodes of The Lead are there?

The Lead launched a year ago and published 223 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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What guests have appeared on The Lead?

Recent guests on The Lead include:

1. Caterina Moser
2. Yohan Furey
3. Alex Patrick
4. Jan Cronje
5. Ethan van Diemen
6. Tankiso Makhetha
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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