In this SMWX interview, Rise Mzansi MP, Makashule Gana breaks down what “hard work” in Parliament actually looks like — from delivering an unusually high number of budget-vote speeches to juggling committee work in a tiny two-seat caucus. We also unpack his political journey, explain why South Africans prefer parties cooperating over fragmentation, and detail why they’ve become one of Parliament’s most consistent voices on gambling reform. Finally, Gana explains Rise Mzansi’s strategic role inside the GNU — and shares a personal goal: running Comrades again.