The Burning Platform

About The Burning Platform

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.

Publisher

Podcast Party

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

3 Jun 2021

Latest episode

1 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

264 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Oct 2026

   The Race to Run Johannesburg - Your City, Their Plan

   Johannesburg needs a mayor. But what does each candidate believe is broken, what do they want the city to become, and who pays for their plans? In this episode, Phumi Mashigo puts different candidates’ answers side by side, exploring their visions for Johannesburg, the cost of fixing the city, the realities of coalition politics and who stands to benefit from the economic future they imagine. Because before you decide who gets your vote, you need to understand what they’re asking you to trust them with.

2. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Heritage, identity and where to from here?

   As South Africa marks Heritage Day, Phumi Mashigo is joined by Zulu Royal Historian and author Shalo Mbatha to ask: what kind of South Africa are we building for the next 30 years? From King Shaka and the formation of the Zulu nation to apartheid, identity, inequality and belonging, they explore what our history can teach us about our future - and what it will take to build a stronger shared South African identity

3. 

   17 Sept 2026

   50 Days to Go: SA Politics Heats Up

   With local government elections less than 50 days away, the political temperature is rising. Phumi Mashigo sits down with Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya to unpack the ANC’s candidate-list chaos, the DA’s missed opportunities, MK’s rise in KwaZulu-Natal and whether the EFF has lost its political edge. Plus: Ramaphosa’s leadership in Africa, Trump and the US midterms, Europe’s shift to the right — and what all of it tells us about the changing face of political leadership.

Who has been a guest on The Burning Platform

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Brooke Goldstein
• Solly Moeng
• Elaaheh Jamali
• Nhlanhla Ndlovu
• Ernst van Zyl

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

927,141

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

4.4 / 5

52 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 72 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

87

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

51

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