ARENA SPORTS SHOW | Pirates are showing early good signs but there is still a long way to go @TimesLIVEVideo

Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

In the 119th episode of the Arena Sports Show, host Clauiee Grace Mpanza and regular guest Mahlatse Mphahlele were joined by sports journalist Tshepang Mailwane.

The show starts with a discussion on how defending champions Orlando Pirates have looked good in the early stages of the campaign despite having made wholesale changes to the team.

It is not going to be easy for them with Mamelodi Sundowns, who are determined to reclaim the league trophy, Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu also having started the season on a promising note.

The discussion moved to the semifinal stage of the MTN8 at the weekend where Pirates enjoy a 1-0 advantage over Sekhukhune United and Golden Arrows having a similar lead over Mamelodi Sundowns.

There was also spotlight on the Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC) which promises to be exhilarating this season as they chase promotion to the elite league.

ARENA SPORTS SHOW | Pirates are showing early good signs but there is still a long way to go

$THE POLITICAL ARENA | From alliance to rivalry: ANC and SACP head for a political showdown The historic alliance between the ANC and the SA Communist Party (SACP) appears to be entering its most uncertain chapter yet as the SACP prepares to contest the 2026 local government elections independently for the first time. In this episode of The Political Arena, Business Day politics editor Hajra Omarjee is joined by TimesLIVE digital politics editor Lizeka Tandwa to unpack the growing tensions within the tripartite alliance and what the SACP’s decision could mean for South Africa’s political future. The discussion explores whether the SACP has the electoral strength, funding and campaign machinery to survive outside the ANC’s shadow, or whether the move is ultimately a bid for greater influence over cabinet positions, economic policy and decision-making power. The team also examines the rise of coalition politics, speculation around possible alignments with parties such as the EFF and MK, and whether left-leaning parties can realistically unite despite deep political rivalries and leadership ambitions. From worker support and alliance fractures to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership challenges and the future of the ANC-led bloc, the episode analyses how this political split could reshape the balance of power ahead of the 2026 municipal elections. #SouthAfrica #News www.timeslive.co.za$

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