Podcast Party Democracy Unplugged

Fake cigarettes financing terror | With commonwealth law enforcement, Rohan Pike

Loading player...
How do criminals exploit borders, trade systems, and corruption to move their money? For most of us the idea of ‘fake’ cigarettes and illicit trade really came to the fore during the Covid Lockdowns when even law abiding South Africans found themselves looking in the strangest places for their fix. Since then the conversations about illicit trade, the financial Action Task Force greylisting of South Africa for among others terror funding and funny money has become an almost daily conversation.

Phumi Mashigo speaks to Rohan Pike, a commonwealth law enforcement expert on border controls, foreign bribery, trade crime, money laundering and corruption to compare how South Africa is doing in contrast with other countries faced with similar challenges.
26 Sep 2025 English South Africa Politics · News

Other recent episodes

SA’s Water Emergency, with Phumi Mashigo and WaterCAN's Dr Ferrial Adam

What has changed since last year’s State of the Nation (SONA) promises? At last year’s SONA, water infrastructure was particularly framed as a national priority yet in parts of Johannesburg, the heart of South Africa’s economy, and in municipalities across the country, taps still run dry. Treatment plants fail. Maintenance…
12 Feb 21 min

The state of SA’s defence force, with Frank Ntwali & Ricardo Teixeira

Can South Africa defend human rights without the power to enforce them? South Africa speaks confidently about justice, peace, and human rights on the world stage. But holding that position requires real capacity, and that’s where things get complicated. Phumi Mashigo explores the consequences of a country that still wants…
5 Feb 41 min

If democracy is changing, are we changing with it?

This edition of Democracy Unplugged is a forward-looking conversation on where South Africa, and the world, is headed politically. Phumi Mashigo picks the brains of Ismael Steenkamp, ward 29 councillor from the Patriotic Alliance; Solly Msimanga, leader of the opposition in the Gauteng Legislature from the Democratic Alliance; and Lerato…
29 Jan 1 hr 08 min

Is SA’s education system broken? With Hendrick Makaneta and Dr Linda Meyer

Higher education in South Africa - are we future-proofing the country, or stuck in an old system? Just after the grade 12 results have been released, Phumi Mashigo hosts a conversation that cuts through the feel-good headlines and asks harder questions about the system. She’s joined by Hendrik Makaneta, education…
22 Jan 30 min
All episodes