In December 2022, the 55th – and possibly last – elective conference of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress will take place against a backdrop of socio-political chaos. In this new limited audio documentary series by Daily Maverick, investigative journalists Richard Poplak and Diana Neille take a road trip across South Africa in search of answers to how the country got to this breaking point, and how the lives and careers of three senior ANC figures – Ace Magashule, Gwede Mantashe and Dr Zweli Mkhize – may be representative of the rise and stumble of our once vaunted democratic project and, by extension, liberal democracies everywhere.
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In December 2022, the 55th – and possibly last – elective conference of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress will take place against a backdrop of socio-political chaos. In this new limited audio documentary series by Daily Maverick, investigative journalists Richard Poplak and Diana Neille take a road trip across South Africa in search of answers to how the country got to this breaking point, and how the lives and careers of three senior ANC figures – Ace Magashule, Gwede Mantashe and Dr Zweli Mkhize – may be representative of the rise and stumble of our once vaunted democratic project and, by extension, liberal democracies everywhere.
KwaZulu-Natal is the diva of South African provinces, a place with a deep and complex history of political violence that has not abated, and one that has suffered a string of disasters, uprisings and climate catastrophes in recent years. One of its most famous sons is Dr Zwelini Lawrence Mkhize, a former uMkhonto we Sizwe militant, a doctor in a white coat and a prominent part of South Africa’s political elite, who has played a major role in shaping the past and present of this troubled province.
Featuring:
- Dr Zweli Mkhize, former Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, former ANC Treasurer-General, former Minister of Health
- Sibusiso “S’bu” Zikode, President of Abahlali BaseMjondolo
- Cyril Madlala, Communications consultant and former head of communications for former KZN Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize
- Chris Makhaye, freelance journalist and KZN correspondent
Archive credits:
News24 / CGTN Africa / Newzroom Afrika / eNews Channel Africa / SABC News / Associated Press / ABC News Australia / Reuters
Written, produced & directed by Richard Poplak and Diana Neille
Fact checking and editorial oversight by Sasha Wales-Smith
Editing & sound design by Diana Neille, Bernard Kotze & Tevya Turok Shapiro
Original soundtrack & visual aesthetic by Bernard Kotze
Additional voice work by Ayanda Charlie
Transcriptions by Gloria Cooper
Project Manager: Kathryn Kotze
Marketing lead: Sarah Koopman
Editor-in-Chief: Branko Brkic
Deputy Editor: Jillian Green
Executive Producer: Styli Charalambous
Produced with support from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation
(The content may not necessarily reflect the Foundation’s views or opinions) The Highwaymen
The Highwaymen
In December 2022, the 55th – and possibly last – elective conference of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress will take place against a backdrop of socio-political chaos. In this new limited audio documentary series by Daily Maverick, investigative journalists Richard Poplak and Diana Neille take a road trip across South Africa in search of answers to how the country got to this breaking point, and how the lives and careers of three senior ANC figures – Ace Magashule, Gwede Mantashe and Dr Zweli Mkhize – may be representative of the rise and stumble of our once vaunted democratic project and, by extension, liberal democracies everywhere.
