South Africa's Deadly Politics | Witness

Ziyanda Ngcobo is a young, ambitious journalist known for reporting on the scourge of political violence in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The province has seen more than 500 political assassinations since the country's first democractic elections in 1994, as politicians fall prey to a deadly scramble for state resources and contracts.
Ziyanda is now investigating the murder of Sindiso Magaqa, a popular local politician and member of the ruling ANC party known for his anti-corruption work. He was fatally shot in July 2017.
As the murder trial plays out across the nation's TV screens, Ziyanda revisits the scene of the crime looking for answers. She also speaks to a politician who has become a whistle-blower against corruption and is a key witness to the murder.
Her investigation takes her to the Glebelands hostel complex, where the murder rate is four times the national average and a high unemployment rate means residents are more vulnerable to being hired as hitmen.
Many of those who witnessed these killings, or whose loved ones were lost, face threats of their own and still live in fear.
Ziyanda is determined to continue reporting despite the dangers, working all hours of the day to get the story out.
South Africa's Deadly Politics follows Ziyanda as she pushes issues of political violence into the national spotlight, determined to expose what she sees as an absolute threat to post-apartheid South Africa and its democracy.
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[@londekamahlanza7433]

Excellent work on a very pressing issue Ziyanda. Stay on it and always consider your safety first.

[@itumelengralesego8765]

This doccie merely just scratched the surface for me. At the same time, i am aware that the journalists lives are at risk, however it could have been a bit more informative

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

Absolutely excellent documentary. She is brave AF for this. Politics in SA is complex and scary and I am glad she touched on the heavy securitisation of MPs. It is crazy knowing that many MPs have bodyguards because they are in fear of their lives.

[@rsa8611]

These political killings practically only happen in Kwazulu-Natal, not in other areas in the country

bullshit

[@tshiamishogopane633]

Hee mfetu, facts.

[@warewolf4760]

I wonder why that is 🤔 what makes KZN so different to other provinces?

[@southernafricanboy4148]

​@@warewolf4760that's what I want to know too

[@katlegoleeuw1017]

Amazing and informative doccie. This has made me question our morale compass of our society even more. How did we get to a point where your life can be ended with R3.5k.

[@southernafricanboy4148]

Are you serious that a person can be killed for 3500rands?😢😮

[@humbulanimulaudzi7185]

Aljazeera is my favorite channel - i love how they cover world issues - I hope they keep going for many years.

[@jolajolo9219]

Not really.... They exploit others countries and act like their countries are heaven... Why don't they go to China to exploit them..... SA problems are south african problems not foreign media

[@jolajolo9219]

You will never see south african media going to their country to exploit them.... South Africa must be like china in terms of privacy

[@Kyle906-Q8]

Jola Mahlobo thats stupid...

[@jolajolo9219]

@@Kyle906-Q8 it's the truth

[@Kyle906-Q8]

Jola Mahlobo i dont agree with that because it gives political parties too much hiding room to do whatever they want. I am not South African i am arab but i do think governments and political parties should be completely transparent. We have a problem in the middle east countries with small attempts to censor the flow of information. I dont like that at all

[@user-or3ly1ig9u]

This is currently depicting the violence that political figures currently face, every thing the reporter was working on with this story is true, the glebelands is lack for a better word the epicenter for killings in KZN. The state acts like this place doesn’t exist and unfortunately the police have little to no authority over what happens there I’m afraid.

[@griseldawccd1860]

and just so you know , i believe that $3500 he talked about , i believe that he meant Rands .

[@okechukwunnorom8211]

am impressed about this....

[@globalsavior8034]

my theory is that in africa, alot of political parties are actually tribal in nature. so if you look at it from a tribal level, then it makes sense why they might b occasional kiilings. because tribalists want their tribe to be in charge and not others. for africa to move forward you will have to work hard to remove the tribal mentality

[@zat0076]

The problem is Africa is made up different nations amalgamated into countries.....tribalistic in nature and never nationalistic...the concept of nation building is alien in most part of Africa....u don’t find a tribal political party but in those parties that are existing....every tribe wants to be the one in charge and are ready to kill for it....so sad

[@surreen1]

@@zat0076 gtfoh Africa was fine until the European stumbled on it

[@mosesmakumbi2428]

@@surreen1 the blame game will never stop until the end of the World

[@ladifmefireabdou3037]

We can't remove tribal mentality ever. we can only break away and allow every tribe to constitute a country on its own just like in Europe. The French have their own country, the Germans, the English have and so on .You would not see a country with more than one tribe in Europe. Human are not able to live with one another .

[@zat0076]

Ladif Mefire Abdou well that is impossible in today’s world...we either unite or we continue to remain a conquered people economically etc

[@samanthataylor1761]

The lady journalist was so nonchalant while asking that woman about the death of her husband. I feel she needs to understand that, although she needs to ask these difficult questions, they may be really difficult for people and she should be more compassionate.

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

She needs to be professional and not be emotionally involved as tough as it is. She's being professional

[@alfonzodavids3647]

God Bless this strong reporter

[@zwelishadladla1379]

Good on you MaNgcobo, great job as always

[@eliasshongwe9647]

Probably The Anc has just moved on and forgotten about Him, we arecaporoaching 7 years and no one vonvicted. Its all because of Tenders, tge sooner we do away with the better is for abantwana babantu.

[@lindamkhontozwane9742]

🇿🇦...This is what happens when greed takes place🥺

[@beckyphala5436]

Very eye opening brilliant work to everyone involved. One certainly wishes there was a lot more narrating by the journo. It feels like looking at how most of the interviwees were willing to talk noy even on condition of anonymity therr was a lot more to tap into. Goodwork nonetheless.

[@tylerpedigo2938]

Video starts at 3:15

[@Thubelihle0815]

Too many ads 😒

[@surreen1]

Africa rise up

[@mohamedgamal-om9oy]

Mahmmad.Gasimm

[@PipeMsibi11]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@abdulgafarmuhiadinmohamed9177]

This is the reall south Africa it's not all about politics everyone is at writer and can face of Ireland so upper cases of violent country I lost a lot of relative to violence

[@yerasmus4025]

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. James 3:16‭-‬17 NKJV

[@1pasupaty]

Feelings of fear and happiness fight for each other on southafrica soil.basically fight for land among blacks and whites and fir jobs favoring blacks

[@josiahnhlapo6222]

All those who kill for money must brought in book and be jailed for 99 years, that must be their jail term

[@ChtUnflitered8630]

I really want to enter politics but I don't want to die so I'll just stick to making videos

[@zeejay3551]

Serious allegations made

[@kofi3720]

“Why is it that, across cultures, darker people suffer most?”

[@Augfordpdoggie]

well in africa;s case, they are still fighting over the scraps after colonization

[@jamesardian8717]

@@Augfordpdoggie Even before colonization, they are already fighting over scraps. If only everything can be blamed on colonization.

[@Augfordpdoggie]

@@jamesardian8717 so were all civilizations. Look at areas of the world that are brutally poor....the most devastated by colonization, oppressive debt, destroyed by CIA influence/ interference and american drive hegemony

[@Augfordpdoggie]

@@jamesardian8717 yes i agree to that as welll. As someone who has lived in africa 23 years the poor people share but once they get power or a bit of money they have to take all of the pie its really fascinating.

[@humbulanimulaudzi7185]

Good question @Jordan. My answer would be that for many years, dark colour and black people have been associated with Evil and Uncleanness and there is too much commercialization of white skins. There are many stories supporting this - look at the billboards around you - how often do you see darker skinned people representing beauty? Because of that and society meaning of beauty, we have seen more people wanting to become white or light skinned