Who really writes our laws? With RISE Mzansi’s Makashule Gana and The New South Institute’s Ivor Chipkin
·45 min
Level Up podcast explores how laws get made in South Africa. Two guests at opposite bill-journey stages: (1) Ivo Chipkin (New South Institute director) on professionalizing public service, separating political from bureaucratic roles — 20-year quest, now at president's desk. (2) Makushule Gana (Rise Mzansi) on gambling reform, particularly online gambling — just beginning parliament journey. Ivo: Identified in 1998 that government departments weren't implementing policy due to muddled political-administrative roles. 2004-2024: slow push; 2024 political shift (ANC lost majority) created appetite for reform limiting politicians' power. Maka: 2004 National Gambling Act inadequate; 2008 amendment passed but never signed; 2018 amendment stalled at provincial level (provinces resisting power loss). Crisis: online gambling exploding, regulation hasn't evolved. Themes: bill survival mechanics, power blockages, provincial vs national tensions, vested interests, need for governance modernization aligned with societal change (like Japan's stable bureaucracy amid political turnover).
