On The Afternoon Drive with John Maytham, we turn to music, memory, and majesty as John is joined by a guest from the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra to preview the upcoming Winter Symphonies at the City Hall, opening on 12 June 2025. The concert features Brahms’ Violin Concerto and Symphony No. 4 in E minor, performed by celebrated violinist Andr…

John Maytham is joined by Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Stephanus- Operational Commander at Public Order Police in Paarl to unpack what SAPS is mandated to do during civil unrest, and why many Capetonians feel law enforcement has fallen short. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serv…

Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival, John Maytham is in conversation with political veteran Tony Leon. As the Government of National Unity (GNU) nears its one-year mark, John and Tony take stock of its performance — asking whether this bold political experiment has truly fostered collaboration or simply replaced strong parliamentary opposit…

Anné Pretorius is an inspiring book compiler with a passion for the preservation and sharing of personal histories. She cares deeply about her community and those around her. She joins John to chat about what you can expect on Sunday when she will take over the playlist in another edition of #AnHourWith. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and autho…

Investigative journalist Caryn Dolley and veteran law enforcement officer Major-General André Lincoln join John for a powerful conversation about crime, corruption, and the deep roots of organised criminal networks in South Africa Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a roun…

Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival, John Maytham is joined by Judge Dennis Davis following a trilogy of riveting conversations that explored the moral and political tensions shaping South Africa and the world in 2025. What Is Jewishness in 2025? Maughan vs Zuma, Cutting to the Chase Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk…

Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival, The Afternoon Drive with John Maytham features a compelling conversation with Dr Mark Nasila, a leading authority on African Artificial Intelligence. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news…

Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival, James Whyle joins John for a powerful conversation about memory, trauma, and the legacy of conscription in apartheid South Africa. Whyle, whose latest novel We Two From Heaven continues his deeply human examination of war and identity, reflects on his own experience of being conscripted into the aparthei…

Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival, The Afternoon Drive with John Maytham features a compelling conversation with Wandile Sihlobo, one of South Africa’s leading agricultural economists, following his participation in two provocative sessions: ”(Butt) Out of Africa” and “Seeds of Change.” Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned…

John Maytham is joined by Allan Johnston, Co-Founder and Executive Director of South African Experiences and spokesperson for Chiefs Tented Camps, to talk about a vibrant return to one of South Africa’s most spectacular seasonal offerings, the Namaqua Flower Beach Camp. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and sea…

Matakanye Matakanye is the Secretary General of the National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB), and he joins John to weigh in on a hotly contested new directive from the Eastern Cape Department of Education, a province wide ban on alcohol sales at all public schools. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veter…

John Maytham is joined by acclaimed French journalist Coline Clavaud Mégevand, a contributor to Le Monde and La Déferlante, to unpack the landmark court ruling that found iconic French actor Gérard Depardieu guilty of sexual assault. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a r…

John Maytham is joined by celebrated cricket writer Neil Manthorpe to unpack the implications of the delayed IPL 2025 final and its knock-on effect on South Africa’s preparations for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show se…

John Maytham is joined by Dr Christopher Lennard, a Degrees-funded scientist and research collaborator, to discuss the upcoming Global Forum on Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) — the largest event of its kind, taking place in Cape Town from 12 to 16 May 2025. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned jou…

To unpack the significance of this moment—for South African art, women artists, and the global art market, the R239 million painting sale by artist, Marlene Dumas —we’re joined by Sean O’Toole, a respected art commentator and curator. Sean is known for his incisive writing on contemporary visual culture and his deep knowledge of the South African a…

To help us unpack this surprising trend of Gautengers moving back to Johanneburg, John Maytham is joined by Chanté Venter, CEO of Wise Move. With over 15,000 recorded moves in 2024 alone, Chanté has her finger on the pulse of where South Africans are going—and more importantly, why. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio ve…

John Maytham is joined by Lisa Otto, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the SARChI Chair in African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the University of Johannesburg. She recently penned a provocative piece titled “Afrikaner ‘refugees’ in US will neither be welcomed as martyrs nor fast-tracked to privilege.” Presenter John Maytham is an actor …

John Maytham is joined by Advocate Craig Watt-Pringle to unpack the recent Labour Court ruling that partially favoured the City of Tshwane in its wage exemption dispute. Having studied the full 70-page judgment, Watt-Pringle explains why only part of the ruling holds broader public interest and breaks down the legal principles behind exemptions in …

John Maytham is joined by health policy experts to unpack the US National Institutes of Health’s decision to halt foreign sub-awards — a move that has placed billions of rands in South African HIV and TB research funding at risk. With clinical trials suspended, patient care disrupted, and jobs on the line, this discussion explores the ethical, medi…

John Maytham speaks to Professor Ashraf Coovadia, Head of Paediatrics and Child Health at Wits University, about why climate change is no longer just an environmental or economic issue but a full-blown public health emergency threatening lives and overwhelming health systems. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran a…

John Maytham is joined by historian Bronwen Everill to discuss her book Africonomics, exploring why Western economic models have failed Africa and how indigenous systems may offer a more relevant path forward. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and int…

John Maytham is joined by writer, technologist and professor Steven Boykey Sidley to discuss the growing environmental concerns tied to the rapid advancement of generative AI. From electricity demand and water use to the carbon cost of training large-scale models, they explore the hidden ecological footprint behind artificial intelligence. Presente…

John Maytham speaks with Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, about the recent unrest in Dunoon’s Ezihagwini informal settlement. The conversation explores how law enforcement balances public safety, crowd control, and constitutional rights during volatile protests. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-tu…

John Maytham is joined by Shaun Scrooby, self-taught chef and owner of VUUR on Goose Island at the Remhoogte Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, to celebrate VUUR’s inclusion in the 2025 World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants list. Ranked 87th globally and named the Best Steak Restaurant in Africa, VUUR joins Johannesburg’s The Blockman as one of only two Sou…

John Maytham is joined by global strategist Michael Power to discuss the 90-day pause in the US-China trade war. After talks in Geneva, both countries agreed to reduce tariffs, easing global tensions. Power unpacks the political and economic impact of the deal and whether it signals lasting change or a temporary truce Presenter John Maytham is an a…

John Maytham speaks with journalist and author Max du Preez about the US decision to grant refugee status to 59 white South Africans. Du Preez rejects claims of persecution as unfounded and politically motivated, placing the issue in the broader context of Trump-era asylum policy and strained US–South Africa relations. Presenter John Maytham is an …

John Maytham is joined by Associate Professor Arjun Amar, avian conservation biologist at the FitzPatrick Institute of Ornithology, for a discussion on the growing presence and ecological impact of three of South Africa’s most noticeable bird species: Egyptian geese, pied crows, and hadedas. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk…

John Maytham is joined by South Africa’s Test coach Shukri Conrad to unpack the newly announced 15-player squad for the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia. The highly anticipated match is set for 11–15 June at Lord’s in London. Conrad shares the thinking behind squad selections, including the return of Lungi Ngidi, the inclusion of…

John Maytham speaks with writer and mental health advocate Marley Jones about her powerful and deeply personal account of spending 12 days in a mental health clinic Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in bu…