Edgar Pieterse is the director of the African Centre for Cities (ACC) based at the University of Cape Town. He is an urbanist trying to make sense of the sociology, politics, geography and economics of the modern African city.We discussed th

Goapie Kabe-Cinematographer

Jun 29th, 2020 1h 6m

Goapie Kabe grew up in Soweto, Johannesburg. A school outing to a live recording of a TV show planted a seed that eventually led her to changing plans and studying film instead of engineering. Over the last ten years she has developed into one

Vedhant Maharaj-Architect

May 31st, 2020 1h 6m

Vedhant Maharaj is an architect and head of the Rebel Base Collective architecture and design studio.I recorded this interview a few weeks back and it then got put on the back-burner as I wanted to have some guests on to look at the COVID-

Prof Shabir Madhi-Professor of Vaccinology, and Director of the MRC Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit at University of the WitwatersrandWits.

May 22nd, 2020 1h 5m

Prof Madhi has recently co-authored a number of articles about South Africa’s route out of lock down. So we chatted about how this might look. He emphasised the need for people to observe distancing protocols in order to slow the rate of corona

Michael Sachs-Adjunct Professor, Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand.

May 15th, 2020 1h 12m

My guest this week is Michael Sachs, Adjunct Professor at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand . He has recently co-authored a number of articles looking at the impact of COVID-19 on the South Afr

Erik Esbjörnsson-Africa correspondent, Dagens Nyheter(Swedish national daily newspaper)

Apr 20th, 2020 1h 8m

Erik Esbjörnsson has been the Africa correspondent for the Swedish daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter since 2010. He spent six years in Nairobi before moving to Johannesburg in 2016. He had an inkling things were about to change in South Africa a

Ndoni Mcunu-Phd student at the Global Change Insitutue, CEO Black Women In Science

Apr 5th, 2020 1h 5m

She is a PhD student at the global change institute at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her PhD is looking at the potential for diversification and scale in small scale farming. Ndoni is also the founder and CEO of Black Women in Science r

Dr Jackie King-Aquatic Ecologist, Winner 2019 Stockholm Water Prize

Mar 25th, 2020 1h 3m

Dr Jackie King is an aquatic ecologist specialising in fresh water, that is to say riverine/inland water systems. She is a pioneer in her field and is the winner of the 2019 Stockholm Water Prize. Back in the early 80’s Jackie she and some

Africa Podfest virtual panel discussion-"Radio's Place in a Podcasting World."

Mar 19th, 2020 1h 6m

This is a special edition of Voices from SA. A virtual panel discussion arranged by Africa Podfest that I moderated entitled "Radio's Place in a Podcasting World. Africa Podfest was due to take place in Nairobi 12-13 March but was postponed d

Father Michael Lapsley-Priest, Founder of The Institute for Healing of Memories

Mar 4th, 2020 1h

Father Michael Lapsley was born in New Zealand, today he considers himself a citizen of the world. He moved to South Africa in 1973 to continue his training as a priest in an order of the Anglican Church. In 1976 he was sent into exile by the a

Obakeng Leseyane-An advocate for access to quality education, founder of Ed Connect Labs

Feb 21st, 2020 58m 23s

At the age of fourteen Obakeng won a scholarship to the prestigious Bishop's School in Cape Town and his life changed forever.Since then he has studied for his A-levels at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg and later this year he

John Clarke-Social worker and activist

Feb 14th, 2020 1h 2m

John Clarke has been working with the Xolobeni community and the Amadiba Crisis Committee for more than a decade in the fight against proposed mining operations by Australian mining company MRC.In this episode John gives an update to the ongo

Dr Zubeda Dangor, Director of the Nisaa Institute For Women's Development and Executive Head of the National Shelter Movement.

Feb 6th, 2020 58m 47s

Zubeda is a founder, and the director of the Nisaa Institute for Women's Development. The organisation has the goal of "enabling women and children to live in a world free of violence." Nisaa was formed in April 1994. She is also the Executive

Bertha Dlamini-President, Women in Electricity and Power; entrepreneur, consultant,

Jan 29th, 2020 1h 5m

Bertha is an entrepreneur with interests in the Energy, Transport, Telecommunications and Management Consulting Sectors, delivering solutions and systems for utilities.She is also the President of an NPO, "Women in Electricty and Power" th

Frank Meintjies-Activist

Jan 22nd, 2020 1h 12m

This is Frank's third appearance on the podcast. Frank is a former trade unionist and I turn to him when I am looking for a fresh perspective on things. He is incredibly well connected and has some interesting things to say about South Africa

Richard Poplak-Journalist and filmmaker.

Jan 15th, 2020 55m 48s

Richard is better know to South Africans as journalist at large for the Daily Maverick where he writes under nom de plume Trainspotter. He is recognized for his acerbic wit, biting satire and razor sharp observations that have infuriated

Ebrahim Fakir-Researcher and Analyst, ASRI

Dec 18th, 2019 1h 13m

I had Ebrahim on the podcast earlier this year in the build-up to the national elections. This time he is on the podcast to review some of the significant political events of 2019.We initially had the idea of looking at the elections, the Zond

Professor Jane Duncan, Head of Journalism, Film and TV, University of Johannesburg

Dec 11th, 2019 1h 4m

Professor Jane Duncan is the Head of the Department of Journalism, Film and TV at the University of Johannesburg. She is one of the founders of the Media Policy and Democracy Project and the author of several books inluding "The Rise of the Sec

Nomanzi Palesa Shongwe-Filmmaker and teacher

Dec 4th, 2019 1h 12m

Nomanzi PalesaShongwe is a filmmaker and teacher. Her short film uNomalanga and the Witch won Best Short Film at the Durban International Film Festival (2015), and The Baobab Short Film Prize at Film Africa, UK (2016). It has nearly 500 00 vi

Muitheri Wahome-Investment professional

Nov 27th, 2019 1h 1m

Muitheri Wahome has been working in the field of asset management since moving to South Africa from Kenya in 1995. She is currently writing a book about the history of asset management in South Africa.After visiting SA for the first time afte

Rebone Masemola-Digital marketer and strategist, anthroplogist, activist and founder of WokePROJECT

Nov 20th, 2019 1h 10m

Rebone Masemola is an anthropologist, a digital marketer and strategist, an activist and the founder of Woke PROJECT. Rebone established Woke PROJECT as a space for people to share intersectional narratives and share lived experiences.

Lebohang Pheko-Feminist, activist, consultant and commentator.

Nov 6th, 2019 1h 19m

Lebohang is the Managing Director of the Four Rivers Trading Consultancy and a research fellow at the progressive think tank, The Trade Collective.Her areas of interest include the regional political economy, globalization and the movement of

Chippy Olver-Environmental activist, author, medical doctor

Oct 31st, 2019 1h 9m

Chippy was one of my early guests on the podcast. He had recently published his first book, How To Steal A City which looked at state capture and ANC corruption in Nelson Mandela Bay.His new book, A House Divided turns his attention to the Ci

Motlatsi Khosi-Philosophy lecturer, UNISA

Oct 24th, 2019 1h 6m

Motlatsi embarked on a career as an academic, teaching philosophy, by chance, after flirting briefly with both medicine and law. Born and raised in Johannesburg she has been teaching at UNISA for five years. Her areas of academic interest inc

Dr Joel Modiri-Senior Lecturer, Department of Jurisprudence, University of Pretoria.

Oct 3rd, 2019 1h 14m

Dr Joel Modiri is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Jurisprudence at the University of Pretoria.His PhD thesis was entitled “The Jurisprudence of Steve Biko: A Study in Race, Law and Power in the ‘Afterlife’ of Colonial-apartheid”.