South Africa's political crisis: Can democratic institutions respond to the crisis of trust and inequality before frustration is captured by authoritarian and populist forces?

The National Briefing · Aug 26, 2026 · 16m

South Africa's political crisis: Can democratic institutions respond to the crisis of trust and inequality before frustration is captured by authoritarian and populist forces? And what role must citizens, communities and social movements play in building a democracy that works not only at the ballot box, but in the everyday lives of South Africans?

Guest: Dr Imraan Buccus - Author of Promises and Perils: the South African crisis

Guest: Angelo Fick - Director of Research at the Auwal Socio-economic Research Institute