In this episode, the panel is joined by Mike Sham, host of the State of the Nation podcast. The panel discusses potentially significant political stories shaping South Africa and the world going into 2026. The conversation starts in South Africa by focusing on the challenges faced by the ANC, and whether it will seek to double down on ideology, as well as the DA's position in the next local government elections and whether a leadership change is appropriate for that party. The conversation also touches on the dynamics within the GNU and whether it will continue to hold strong through 2026.
After South Africa, the conversation heads to America where the panel considers what the mid-terms in November could mean for the Trump legacy. The conversation also focuses heavily on the implications of US politics for international relations. The conversation delves into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the potential for peace in Europe, highlighting the complexities of global politics and the shifting dynamics being played out on the global stage.
The discussion ends in Europe as the panel members discuss whether changing sensibilities towards climate will have an impact on European policymakers, or whether they will continue to blindly pursue net zero at all costs. The panellists also ask whether the countries of Europe will continue to swing to the populist right.
Makin Sense is the flagship podcast of The Common Sense, a new South African media organisation that offers independent analysis on South African and global news stories. Our foundational value is respect for the time our subscribers invest in reading, listening to, and watching our content. We stress the bridge issues that unite people and not the wedge issues that are used to divide and celebrate all the things that are good about South Africa and the world because it is in so many respects a wonderful time to be alive.
Mike Sham is an entrepreneur turned political analyst, he is also the Host of The State of The Nation podcast, a platform for long form interview and opinion on South Africa.
James Myburgh is the Director of the Bremen Centre for Democratic Research (BRE-DE-RE) and editor of politicsweb.co.za . He served as a policy researcher for the Democratic Party in the late 90s. He has a DPhil in Politics from St. Anthony's College Oxford.
Frans Cronje is the Editor of the Common Sense and founder of Frans Cronje private clients. He was the CEO of the South African liberal think-tank the Institute of Race Relations for 8 years.
Gabriel Makin is the CEO of the SRF and Executive producer of The Common Sense. He had previously worked as a barista.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Panel and Themes Ahead
02:23 The ANC's Struggles and Future Prospects
14:56 Local Government Elections: A Turning Point for the ANC
29:39 The DA's Challenges and Leadership Dynamics
50:15 Navigating Political Leadership and Strategy
52:53 The Importance of Collaboration in South African Politics
57:11 The Role of Political Leadership in National Stability
58:50 Shifting Focus: International Relations and the U.S. Impact
01:09:39 Analyzing the U.S. Political Landscape and Upcoming Elections
01:18:07 Prospects for Peace in Europe and the Ukraine Conflict
01:28:00 The Future of European Politics and Elections
