The Mashatile ‘hit’ that wasn’t, with Kyle Cowan

Loading player...
Was South Africa's deputy president, Paul Mashatile, the recent target of an attempted assassination? If sources close to a SAPS ballistics report are anything to go by, the answer to that question may be a resounding no. In tonight’s episode, we discuss with News24 journalist Kyle Cowan what our team of investigative reporters have uncovered about the apparent shooting incident involving Mashatile's convoy on a Gauteng highway on the night of 30 March. "The overarching takeaway from it is that this was likely not an intentional attempt to harm the deputy president. It was most likely a stray shot from a shotgun," says Cowan. This as Mashatile's ANC campaign to succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa as party president looks for sympathy off the back of the shooting incident. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer brings us up to speed with the latest VAT announcement. And finally, fresh Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa complaints come for Moja Love's reality show, Isencane Lengane.
Chapters
  • 00:01 Graeme's intro
  • 01:31 Interview with Kyle Cowan
  • 28:04 Trending topic: The VAT reversal
  • 30:39 And finally: Isencane Lengane abuse claims
  • 31:52 AD: The Weekender
  • 32:17 Graeme's outro
24 Apr 2025 English South Africa News · Society & Culture

Other recent episodes

Should SA get involved in the US-Venezuela crisis?

While the SACP marched on the US Embassy in Pretoria on Thursday to denounce the Trump administration’s abduction of another sitting head of state, the political parties that make up the current government of national unity (GNU) failed to see eye-to-eye on how best to react to the US-Venezuela crisis…
8 Jan 29 min

From SIU head to NPA boss, Andy Mothibi’s surprise leap raises eyebrows

A surprise appointment to be sure… Corruption buster Advocate Andy Mothibi has his work cut out for him as the new head of the National Prosecuting Authority from February 1. But does his bypassing of the interview process sour the start of his new position, and what about concerns over…
7 Jan 21 min

Why are SA shoppers still using savings stamps? With Maya Fisher-French

In our second edition of the new year so far… They’re by no means a new invention. But they appear to be as popular as ever, according to one major retailer. Many South Africans continue to spend millions on savings stamps every month, according to consumer journalist Maya Fisher-French. Later,…
6 Jan 22 min

Analysing Bafana’s Afcon exit

Welcome to 2026 Lead listeners… From municipal elections to the FIFA World Cup, it is going to be a banger of a year… and we’ll be with you telling our countries’ most critical stories, every step of the way. For our first edition of season two of The Lead; Bafana…
5 Jan 29 min

The government of national unity (barely) survives 2025, with Jan Gerber

Touch wood, South Africa’s government of national unity has survived 2025. But the tested national coalition between two of the country’s most devout enemies, the ANC and the DA, has the war wounds to show for it. And senior parliamentary correspondent Jan Gerber has borne witness to most of these…
23 Dec 2025 23 min