It’s been a while since I last chatted to Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi who is pretty busy these days as chair of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
And frankly, a lot has changed since the 2024 general elections.
He says South African politics is shifting from substance to spectacle.
Zibi argues that politics in 2026 is increasingly driven by engagement, virality and “vibes” rather than bread-and-butter issues, as citizens become overwhelmed by misinformation, digital noise and political fatigue.
He is not wrong.
In that environment, many voters are checking out altogether, even as the consequences of politics grow more severe.
In our chat, Zibi reflects on his own journey from outsider to elected politician, saying distrust in politicians now extends even to him simply because he joined the system.
But he insists meaningful political change requires exactly that: entering institutions, building credibility and doing the hard, often unglamorous work of reform.
He says one of the biggest lessons from launching Rise Mzansi was that South Africans still look for a track record, even when they claim to want “anti-politicians.” I found that fascinating.
A major theme in the interview is Zibi’s belief that South Africa’s political class has been hollowed out by the withdrawal of professionals from politics.
He reminded me that when the ANC was formed in 1912, it was a bunch of clever elites.
Zibi argues that too many skilled South Africans prefer to remain adjacent to power rather than pursue it directly, leaving leadership spaces vulnerable to weaker candidates, especially in local government.
For him, rebuilding politics is a long game that starts with serious people choosing to participate.
That philosophy shapes how he approaches Parliament.
As chair of Scopa, Zibi says he has deliberately pushed the committee away from political theatre and toward technocratic accountability.
Rather than chase headlines, the focus is on systemic reform: improving governance at state entities, setting standards for public appointments and using oversight to solve real problems. Unsexy politics, really.
He points to issues like the Road Accident Fund’s massive backlog — more than 453,000 claims affecting over 4 million people — as proof that detailed parliamentary work can have life-changing consequences.
We debated whether people care and he insists that people stop him at the grocery story about it.
On coalition politics, Zibi argues that South Africa’s problem is not simply too many parties, but the poor quality of leadership and the lack of unifying figures, especially in municipalities.
He is blunt about the dysfunction in local government, warning that without capable candidates and collaborative leadership, instability will deepen.
He is equally frank about President Cyril Ramaphosa, describing him as cautious rather than malicious: sometimes taking the right decisions, but often too slowly.
But then I pushed if that caution was malicious on Ramaphosa’s side. Zibi shook his head.
More broadly, Zibi believes the ANC is no longer the only credible vessel for progressive politics and that South Africa’s political “soul” remains centre-left, creating space for a social democratic alternative.
Despite his grim assessment, Zibi is not without hope.
What keeps him going, he says, are the small victories in Parliament and the many overlooked public servants who continue to hold the country together.
His final answer to why South Africans should still believe in the country is simple, emotional and telling: because, despite everything, it is beautiful.
You don’t want to not watch the full episode.
Give it a watch and let me know your thoughts.
Best,
Q
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