Best The Ec Network Podcasts (2025)

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Artscape Urban Outreach Concert 2025 6:16

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1h ago6:16

6:16

John Maytham is joined by Craig Parks, producer of the Urban Outreach Concert, to talk about how this unique Artscape initiative is bringing world-class performance right into the heart of Cape Town’s communities. With the spotlight on Athlone this year, the concert offers a professionally staged, free-to-attend celebration of local talent — hosted…

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No Warning, No Escape: How gaps in early alerts cost lives in the Eastern Cape Floods 8:11

3h ago8:11

8:11

John Maytham is joined by Dewald van Niekerk, Head of the African Centre for Disaster, to unpack how communication breakdowns and governance failures turned severe weather into a deadly disaster during the recent Eastern Cape floods. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a r…

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#AnHourWith: Loren Loubser 3:50

2h ago3:50

3:50

Loren Loubser joins John to chat about what you can expect on Sunday when Loren Loubser will take over the playlist in another edition of #AnHourWith. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport,…

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The continuing unhappiness over the SETA boards 5:21

3h ago5:21

5:21

John Maytham is joined by political analyst Mpumelelo Mkhabela to unpack the controversy surrounding Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane and her now-withdrawn appointments to the SETA boards—statutory bodies intended to improve workforce skills in South Africa Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasone…

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The John Maytham Book Review John Maytham Books: With Author, John Connoll 14:51

4h ago14:51

14:51

Listen to CapeTalk’s John Maytham as he shares his weekly book reviews and his passion for all things literary. From fiction to non-fiction, John reads and reviews a range of books that would sit well on your reading list. This week, he is joined in studio by John Connolly, the bestselling author of mystery and supernatural fiction, to discuss The …

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Kyalami set for R180-Million revamp in bid to bring F1 back to South Africa 4:42

4h ago4:42

4:42

John Maytham is joined by Toby Venter, owner of the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, to discuss South Africa’s high-stakes bid to bring Formula 1 back to the continent for the first time in over three decades. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and internat…

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The Labubu dolls: Has the Labubu craze hit South African shores? 5:56

4h ago5:56

5:56

John Maytham is joined by Bronwyn Williams, retail analyst and futurist, to unpack the rise of the Labubu phenomenon – the quirky, fairytale-inspired plush toy created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung and distributed locally by Wonderport Collectibles. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. H…

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Our Burning Planet: Mapping a greener future: Wits researchers pinpoint where trees can best tackle climate change 8:09

4h ago8:09

8:09

Our Burning Planet is the Daily Maverick section devoted to expert environmental opinion and analysis. We partner up each Friday on the Afternoon Drive to discuss a burning issue – This week, John Maytham is joined by Dr Sally Archibald, South African scientist and professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, who leads the Fefa programme, to d…

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“There is so much more to come from this Test team” 13:24

5h ago13:24

13:24

John Maytham speaks to Shukri Conrad, head coach of South Africa’s Test side, about what this victory means for the future of the game and how his squad’s performance proves that Test cricket still holds a special place in the hearts of both players and fans. Conrad credits the team’s success to a deep commitment to the traditional format and says …

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The RMB Africa crossing: With Crystal Orderson 7:36

1d ago7:36

7:36

John Maytham is joined by Crystal Orderson as, the RMB Africa Focus series is back on CapeTalk to give insights into Africa’s economic resilience and why the continent remains central to global investment conversations. As a leading African corporate and investment bank, RMB plays an active role in Africa’s growth; and through the RMB Africa Focus …

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The Trump Factor: How U.S. strikes on Iran would shift global calculus 9:00

1d ago9:00

9:00

John Maytham is joined by United Nations Association (UK) CEO Jane Kinninmont to discuss what could happen if Donald Trump orders the U.S. to join Israeli strikes on Iran. With rockets hitting hospitals and nuclear sites under threat, the risk of a wider war is rising fast. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and…

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DHA plans digital migration 16:53

1d ago16:53

16:53

John Maytham speaks to Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, about how this digital migration will work and what South Africans can expect over the coming years. The plans also include partnerships with nearly 1 000 bank branches, where citizens will be able to access key civic services more conveniently. Schreiber believes this digital transfo…

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Plan B with Rebecca 13:57

1d ago13:57

13:57

Rebecca Davis joins John Maytham each week to reflect on just how strange the news can be. From the most important to the very strange, John and Rebecca offer their view of what is happening in our world that makes it at times infuriating, at times inspirational but always fascinating. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio…

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Joint eviction application for two Cape Town sites unlawfully occupied by foreign nationals 8:31

1d ago8:31

8:31

John Maytham speaks to Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, who says the state cannot indefinitely sustain the living conditions or public safety risks posed by the unlawful occupations. He adds that the joint application is not only about reclaiming public land but also about restoring dignity to those living under increasingly dire and unsustainab…

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Piloting the Future: There’s no innovation without community buy-in, ft. BuildingLens & Prosper Portland 39:12

1d ago39:12

39:12

Tackling energy’s biggest problems requires true innovators to start somewhere—small solutions turn into enormous ones, faster than you might think.This week on Piloting the Future, hosts Kim Getgen and Lee Krevat hear from David Burchfield, Cofounder of BuildingLens, and Katherine Juengel, Green Cities Industry Liaison at Prosper Portland, about t…

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The much-anticipated Food Indaba 8:01

2d ago8:01

8:01

Crystal Orderson speaks to Iain Harris, Event Project Manager at the Food Indaba, who helps shape this multi-day programme of talks, demos, and conversations. He says this year’s theme is about reimagining Africa’s food future with both traditional wisdom and cutting-edge tech at the centre of the plate. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and autho…

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Senzo Mchunu wants to beef up the Metro Police: Part Two, the analysis 7:52

2d ago7:52

7:52

In Part Two of the discussion on proposed reforms to South Africa’s policing landscape, Crystal Orderson is joined by veteran policing and crime analyst Eldred De Klerk to unpack the deeper implications of Minister Senzo Mchunu’s wide-ranging SAPS restructuring plans and his proposal to expand the powers of Metro Police. Presenter John Maytham is a…

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Senzo Mchunu wants to beef up the Metro Police 6:51

2d ago6:51

6:51

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis joins Crystal Orderson to unpack Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s bold proposals to expand the powers of metro police forces across South Africa Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the…

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The fight for birth justice 8:02

2d ago8:02

8:02

Freelance researcher and writer Alexandra Willis joins Crystal Orderson to unpack the rising global C-section rates and what they reveal about the medicalisation of birth. Drawing from Alexandra’s recent Daily Maverick article, the conversation explores how doulas are helping restore agency to birthing women in South Africa’s public health system w…

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G7 Summit 9:53

2d ago9:53

9:53

International relations expert Dr Oscar van Heerden joins Crystal Orderson to unpack the key outcomes and controversies from the 2025 G7 Summit, held in Kananaskis, Canada. From Donald Trump’s abrupt departure amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict to muted support for Ukraine and tensions surrounding India’s presence, this year’s gathering was a…

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SCOPA - The NPA and the Hawks 5:03

2d ago5:03

5:03

Lindsay Dentlinger from EWN joins Crystal Orderson to unpack the latest from Parliament, where the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) is being briefed by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Hawks. The session focuses on high-stakes corruption cases referred by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), spanning multiple governmen…

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Encounters Film Festival 7:08

2d ago7:08

7:08

Festival Director Mandisa Zitha joins Crystal Orderson to discuss this year’s edition of the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival — running from 19 to 29 June in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Since 1999, Encounters has been a defining platform for powerful local and global documentary filmmaking. Presenter John Maytham is an ac…

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Waiting for a grave, not a home: The Western Cape housing queue 9:56

2d ago9:56

9:56

Brett Herron joins Crystal Orderson to unpack what he calls a “radical governance failure”, and to explain how systemic inaction, misused budgets, and spatial planning bias are undermining real housing delivery. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and i…

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Addressing the ongoing gang violence in Mitchells Plain 6:29

2d ago6:29

6:29

Crystal speaks to Linda Jones, Chairperson of the Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum to discuss the wave of gun violence in Mitchells Plain. She says communities are under siege while SAPS remains stretched and under-resourced. With guns flowing into the hands of criminals and no clear strategy to stop the violence at its root, residents are …

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Residents pushing back on tourism in Barcelona: What does this mean for Cape Town? 7:35

2d ago7:35

7:35

Barcelona has become a flashpoint in the global debate around over-tourism. With more than 15 million annual visitors, nearly ten times its population, the city is grappling with rising rents, resident displacement, and growing public anger. David Frost, CEO of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA), joins Crystal Orderson to unpa…

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Iran-Israel Tension: Latest update 4:17

3d ago4:17

4:17

Pippa Hudson is joined by Bhaso Ndendze, International Relations Expert at the University of Johannesburg, to unpack the current status of the escalating tensions between Israel, Iran, and the Gaza Strip. With international concern mounting, Ndendze explains how recent developments have shifted regional alliances, what’s at stake for global powers,…

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Children’s Institute tackles Home Affairs over late birth registration delay 6:50

3d ago6:50

6:50

Pippa Hudson is joined by Paula Proudlock, Senior Researcher at the Children’s Institute, to unpack their urgent legal challenge against the Department of Home Affairs over a massive backlog in late birth registrations. With over 250,000 children and adults reportedly waiting years—sometimes up to seven—for birth certificates, the discussion explor…

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BELA Backlash: Who really controls our schools now 7:26

3d ago7:26

7:26

Pippa Hudson speaks to Dr Solomon Chibaya, lecturer in education policy at the University of the Free State, about the ripple effects of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in September 2024. While two contentious clauses—on language and admissions—were placed on hold, the Act still reshapes sc…

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Toxic No More: Cabinet bans killer pesticide 'Terbufos' 6:03

3d ago6:03

6:03

Pippa Hudson speaks to Mariam Mayet, Director of the African Centre for Biodiversity, about Cabinet’s decision to ban Terbufos — a toxic agricultural chemical linked to multiple child deaths in a food contamination tragedy last year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By CapeTalk

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EC Flood Update 5:25

3d ago5:25

5:25

Pippa Hudson speaks with Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, about the devastating floods in the Eastern Cape that have claimed at least 90 lives—30 of them children—and left thousands homeless. With Mthatha, OR Tambo, and Amathole districts among the hardest hit, Sooliman provides a sobering update on the scale of the crisis and th…

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Why must data expire in SA? MPs grill mobile networks for answer 7:28

3d ago7:28

7:28

Pippa Hudson is joined by MyBroadband Editor Jan Vermeulen to unpack the recent grilling of South Africa’s major mobile networks by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and inte…

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WCED School Admissions: What to do if you don't get an option 6:48

3d ago6:48

6:48

Vanessa Le Roux, a parent activist from Parents for Equal Education, joins us to unpack the Western Cape Education Department’s 2026 school admissions process. With the official application window running from 11 March to 12 April 2025, she discusses the challenges faced by parents who miss the deadline and how late applications—while still accepte…

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Video captures careless tourist destroying a chair at Verona’s Palazzo Maffei museum 9:48

3d ago9:48

9:48

Pippa Hudson speaks to Vanessa Carlon Valerio, Director at Verona’s Palazzo Maffei Museum, about a viral moment where careless tourists caused damage to Van Gogh’s Chair, a crystal-covered artwork, while posing for photos. Captured on video, the clip shows one tourist stumbling onto the chair, causing it to buckle, before fleeing the scene. Kratcha…

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Revitalising the historic Zim city to mirror Singapore growth. 8:10

4d ago8:10

8:10

Joining Graeme Raubenheimer to discuss the revitalization of Zimbabwe is Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart, who says it's time to stop romanticizing the past and start engineering the future Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled …

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Iran and Israel conflict 15:42

4d ago15:42

15:42

Graeme Raubenheimer is joined by Bilal Bassiouni, Head of Risk Forecasting and MENA Analyst at Pangea-Risk to unpack the latest on the Israel and Iran conflict. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in busine…

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Mashatile Heads to Russia for Economic Forum 8:34

4d ago8:34

8:34

Graeme Raubenheimer speaks with Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, about the Deputy President’s upcoming working visit to the Russian Federation. The five-day trip includes high-level diplomatic meetings in Moscow with Russian leaders including President Vladimir Putin and participation in the St. Petersburg Int…

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Mthatha floods update 7:10

4d ago7:10

7:10

Joining Graeme Raubenheimer is Ms Khuselwa Rantjie, spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Office of the Premier, to share updates on relief efforts, the province’s response, and how communities will be supported in the wake of the Mthatha floods. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show s…

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First-Class on your dime? Inside Ministers’ R202 Million Travel Bill 10:05

4d ago10:05

10:05

ActionSA MP Alan Beesley joins Graeme Raubenheimer to unpack the staggering R202 million spent by cabinet members on travel since July 2024. With ministers flying business class and racking up hotel bills nearing R1 million, Beesley argues it’s time for urgent reform. He outlines ActionSA’s Enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill, which proposes scrapping …

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Youth Day 15:08

4d ago15:08

15:08

Graeme Raubenheimer is joined by historian and writer Zikhona Valela to reflect on the legacy of Sharpeville and the evolving significance of Youth Day in South Africa. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest i…

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Boyes drive fire update 10:46

4d ago10:46

10:46

Jermaine Carelse is the spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services and has been closely monitoring the fire containment efforts since the weekend, on Boyes Drive. He Graeme Raubenheimer to break down the current status and the city’s response moving forward. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio vete…

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Is AMI worth the hype? 53:59

6d ago53:59

53:59

U.S. utilities have invested tens of billions of dollars in Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) over the last two decades. As those first-generation deployments approach end-of-life, utilities are facing difficult questions: Did AMI deliver on its promises? Was the investment justified? And what comes next?To get to the bottom of that and look a…

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Sin & Salvation: The Story of Johnny Cash returns 6:29

7d ago6:29

6:29

Crystal Orderson is joined by singer and performer Jamie Jupiter for a conversation about Sin and Salvation: The Story of Johnny Cash, a riveting theatrical production returning to Café Roux in Noordhoek after a sold-out, standing-ovation debut. More than just a tribute show, this performance delves into the raw, redemptive story of the legendary “…

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The Chinese announcement of the removal of goods imported from African nations 7:13

7d ago7:13

7:13

Crystal Orderson is joined by Professor David Monyae, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg, to unpack China’s bold trade announcement to scrap tariffs on imports from nearly all African countries. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned jo…

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Africa business media innovators 7:43

7d ago7:43

7:43

Joining Crystal Orderson now is Ndivhuwo Nemukula from Bloomberg Corporate Philanthropy Africa and one of the lead organisers of ABMI. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and wea…

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The Vredehoek Skate Park 6:52

7d ago6:52

6:52

Crystal Orderson speaks to Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health and Councillor for Ward 77 in the City of Cape Town, about rising community concerns surrounding the Mill Street Skatepark. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up…

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South African Navy submarine in the right place – wrong time 8:24

7d ago8:24

8:24

Crystal Orderson is joined by Commander Romero Hector, widower of SA Navy Lieutenant Commander Gillian Hector, who tragically died along with two colleagues after being swept overboard from the SAS Manthatisi submarine during a naval exercise off Kommetjie in September 2023. As new evidence emerges and the official inquiry report remains classified…

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Broken Roads, Broken Budgets: The Climate Challenge Facing SA's Municipalities 8:30

7d ago8:30

8:30

To discuss what’s being done to assist municipalities in preparing for and managing these climate risks, Crystal Orderson is joined by Cllr Mluleki Nkosi, Chairperson of the Emergency Services and Disaster Management Working Group at SALGA—the South African Local Government Association. SALGA has been working with municipalities to integrate climat…

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Our Burning Planet: Cape Town Climate Status 12:20

7d ago12:20

12:20

Our Burning Planet is the Daily Maverick section devoted to expert environmental opinion and analysis. We partner up each Friday on the Afternoon Drive to discuss a burning issue. – This week, Crystal Orderson speaks to Gareth Morgan, the Executive director of Future planning and Resilience in the City of Cape Town, about the impact of Climate chan…

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The P20 Youth Parliament 10:23

7d ago10:23

10:23

Crystal Orderson is joined by Sandiswa Gwele, Director of the Ukhanyo Foundation, to discuss the P20 Youth Parliament — a youth-led policy dialogue taking place as part of Youth Day commemorations. Hosted in Cape Town’s Good Hope Chamber, the event brings together young MPs, activists, ministers, and legislators to address youth unemployment and ec…

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Utilities have a data problem. Is GIS the solution? 40:57

8d ago40:57

40:57

What do two GIS experts say when you ask them about the importance of data management for utilities? “You can’t manage what you can’t see.”“If the data is wrong, bad things happen.”“Without data, you have no control.” This week on The GISt, we’re diving deep into GIS as a tool to address latency, remove siloes, and help utilities do less on-prem…so…