Level Up with Phumi Mashigo: What to expect in 2025

Loading player...
After a decade run as South Africa’s first and longest-running online current affairs show, The Burning Platform is levelling up – Level Up with Phumi Mashigo - under Podcast Party’s Democracy Unplugged umbrella.…as well as live events where you can be part of the audience. Email podcastparty.co.za to reserve your place and add your voice.

In the premiere episode of Level Up, this powerhouse panel unpacks the trends, shifts, and surprises 2025 has in store. Phumi is joined by trends guru Dion Chang, brain and brand expert Timothy Maurice, and political observer Xavier Bapoo to explore how politics, business, and human behavior will shape the year ahead. From global disruptions to South Africa’s evolving political landscape, this episode is your guide to the future.
6 Feb 2025 English South Africa Politics · News

Other recent episodes

New Dawn” to Political Crossroads

Did South Africans buy into hope, only to end up confronting more political disappointment? Phumi Mashigo dives into President Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala fallout, the ANC’s growing credibility crisis, and the debate over whether Cyril Ramaphosa is a consensus builder - or simply too passive for the moment South Africa finds…
14 May 48 min

Can the gap between education policy and delivery finally be closed?

Following our previous education discussion, a clearer picture begins to emerge: one defined not just by underperformance, but by mounting pressure. Demand is rising faster than capacity, and while the state continues to expand its role, it’s increasingly doing so through partnerships that sit adjacent to the system itself. So…
7 May 40 min

Democracy vs Reality: Why South Africans Are Losing Faith in Voting

South Africa is a young democracy, yet its voters are ageing while optimism continues to fade. Every election cycle raises the same concerns about youth disengagement and low voter turnout, but the deeper issue may not be a lack of understanding—it may be a loss of belief in impact. For…
23 Apr 33 min

Has education transformation worked?

What has 30 years of education reform in South Africa actually produced? For more than three decades, James Urdang has worked at the intersection of education, civil society, and social change. As the founder of Education Africa, his work has been shaped by a clear belief that education remains one…
22 Apr 40 min

Broken basics: who’s responsible?

Who is responsible when service delivery stops working, and how do we fix it? Phumi Mashigo moderates this timely conversation with a panel of politicians on the state of infrastructure in South Africa’s urban centres, the barriers to delivery, and the solutions needed to rebuild confidence in our cities. Featuring…
16 Apr 55 min