The Deal South Africa Should Put Before Washington

It is easy to fix the United States/South Africa relationship. This is how.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

-

18.9.2026

Are Calls for AI Regulations Just an Excuse for More Government Control?

SIMON LINCOLN READER -

18.9.2026

JSE Has Shrunk By 40% in 20 Years

ECONOMICS DESK -

18.9.2026

Springboks For Sale, America Sanctions the ANC, a Serial Killer, Somaliland, and the Enclave Future

THE TALKING SENSE PODCAST -

18.9.2026

This is What Families Must do to Survive a Future South Africa

FRANS CRONJE -

17.9.2026

Number of Candidates for '26 Election Surges Compared to '21

POLITICS DESK

- 17.9.2026

Fed Increases Rates, Upping Hike Prospects for SA Next Week

ECONOMICS DESK

- 17.9.2026

MKP Is Now Level With The ANC In Johannesburg

GABRIEL MAKIN

- 17.9.2026

This is Why the Springboks Were Playing in Baltimore

SPORTS DESK

- 17.9.2026

Compulsory Critical Race Theory at UKZN

RICHARD WILKINSON

- 17.9.2026

IVOR BLUMENTHAL

R72 Billion Later, Nobody Can Say What the National Skills Fund Achieved

South Africa needs a better system of determining whether the money that is spend on skills development and training is well spent. At the moment, we don’t know.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

We Want to Take This Journey with You

This week, The Common Sense published its first practical guide to what families need to do if they are to survive and thrive in the country South Africa is becoming.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

The Common Sense’s Diary: A Summer Night’s Eve in Baltimore

WANDILE SIHLOBO

Kenya Should Remove the Restrictions on GMO Maize Imports

MAHAN

The Architects of Perception: Soviet Defectors and the Anatomy of Active Measures

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Ernst Roets is Doing a Good Thing on Farm Murders

SHRTS

VIEW ALL

PLLING

VIEW ALL

Age Divides How Voters See Julius Malema

Does age change how voters feel about Julius Malema? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Men and Women Split on Guaranteeing American Investments

Would voters guarantee American investments against expropriation? Men and women answer differently, and we have the numbers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Women Are Twice as Likely as Men to Have No View on the GNU's Smaller Parties

Do women and men judge the GNU's parties differently? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Job-Seekers Are Far More Likely Than Business Owners to Say Immigrants Take South Africans' Jobs

We asked voters whether immigrants are a main reason South Africa lacks jobs, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Voters Over 65 Are the Least Sympathetic to Immigrants

Does age change how voters feel about foreign immigrants? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Voters Over 45 Are Four Times as Likely as 25-34s to Follow Politics Closely

We asked voters how closely they follow government and current affairs, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Enclaves Are Not Just a Suburban Story

We asked voters whether their own communities have taken over what government is meant to do, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

ANC Favourability Among Voters by Level of Education Completed

Does how far you went in school change how you see the ANC? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Black Voters Are the Least Likely to Say They're Personally Sympathetic to Immigrants

We asked voters directly whether they feel personal sympathy toward foreign immigrants, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Age Divides How Voters See Julius Malema

Does age change how voters feel about Julius Malema? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Men and Women Split on Guaranteeing American Investments

Would voters guarantee American investments against expropriation? Men and women answer differently, and we have the numbers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Women Are Twice as Likely as Men to Have No View on the GNU's Smaller Parties

Do women and men judge the GNU's parties differently? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Job-Seekers Are Far More Likely Than Business Owners to Say Immigrants Take South Africans' Jobs

We asked voters whether immigrants are a main reason South Africa lacks jobs, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Voters Over 65 Are the Least Sympathetic to Immigrants

Does age change how voters feel about foreign immigrants? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Voters Over 45 Are Four Times as Likely as 25-34s to Follow Politics Closely

We asked voters how closely they follow government and current affairs, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Enclaves Are Not Just a Suburban Story

We asked voters whether their own communities have taken over what government is meant to do, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

ANC Favourability Among Voters by Level of Education Completed

Does how far you went in school change how you see the ANC? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Black Voters Are the Least Likely to Say They're Personally Sympathetic to Immigrants

We asked voters directly whether they feel personal sympathy toward foreign immigrants, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Age Divides How Voters See Julius Malema

Does age change how voters feel about Julius Malema? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Men and Women Split on Guaranteeing American Investments

Would voters guarantee American investments against expropriation? Men and women answer differently, and we have the numbers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Women Are Twice as Likely as Men to Have No View on the GNU's Smaller Parties

Do women and men judge the GNU's parties differently? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Job-Seekers Are Far More Likely Than Business Owners to Say Immigrants Take South Africans' Jobs

We asked voters whether immigrants are a main reason South Africa lacks jobs, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Voters Over 65 Are the Least Sympathetic to Immigrants

Does age change how voters feel about foreign immigrants? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Voters Over 45 Are Four Times as Likely as 25-34s to Follow Politics Closely

We asked voters how closely they follow government and current affairs, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Enclaves Are Not Just a Suburban Story

We asked voters whether their own communities have taken over what government is meant to do, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

ANC Favourability Among Voters by Level of Education Completed

Does how far you went in school change how you see the ANC? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Black Voters Are the Least Likely to Say They're Personally Sympathetic to Immigrants

We asked voters directly whether they feel personal sympathy toward foreign immigrants, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Age Divides How Voters See Julius Malema

Does age change how voters feel about Julius Malema? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Men and Women Split on Guaranteeing American Investments

Would voters guarantee American investments against expropriation? Men and women answer differently, and we have the numbers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Women Are Twice as Likely as Men to Have No View on the GNU's Smaller Parties

Do women and men judge the GNU's parties differently? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Job-Seekers Are Far More Likely Than Business Owners to Say Immigrants Take South Africans' Jobs

We asked voters whether immigrants are a main reason South Africa lacks jobs, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Voters Over 65 Are the Least Sympathetic to Immigrants

Does age change how voters feel about foreign immigrants? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Voters Over 45 Are Four Times as Likely as 25-34s to Follow Politics Closely

We asked voters how closely they follow government and current affairs, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Enclaves Are Not Just a Suburban Story

We asked voters whether their own communities have taken over what government is meant to do, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

ANC Favourability Among Voters by Level of Education Completed

Does how far you went in school change how you see the ANC? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Black Voters Are the Least Likely to Say They're Personally Sympathetic to Immigrants

We asked voters directly whether they feel personal sympathy toward foreign immigrants, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

VIDES

VIEW ALL

South Africans Are Poorer In 2026 Than In 2008

THE COMMON SENSE

-

17.9.2026

The Massive Election Problem No One Is Talking About

THE COMMON SENSE

-

16.9.2026

The Economics of Domestic Workers

THE COMMON SENSE

-

15.9.2026

How To Thrive In South Africa's Enclave Future: (Members Special)

THE COMMON SENSE

-

14.9.2026

One Hundred Municipalities Won’t Have a Majority

THE COMMON SENSE

-

10.9.2026

South Africans Are Poorer In 2026 Than In 2008

THE COMMON SENSE

-

17.9.2026

The Massive Election Problem No One Is Talking About

THE COMMON SENSE

-

16.9.2026

The Economics of Domestic Workers

THE COMMON SENSE

-

15.9.2026

How To Thrive In South Africa's Enclave Future: (Members Special)

THE COMMON SENSE

-

14.9.2026

One Hundred Municipalities Won’t Have a Majority

THE COMMON SENSE

-

10.9.2026

Thriving in SA’s enclaves

VIEW ALL

This is What Families Must do to Survive a Future South Africa

The Common Sense’s guide to South Africa's enclave future.

FRANS CRONJE

-

17.9.2026

How To Thrive In South Africa's Enclave Future: (Members Special)

FRANS CRONJE

South Africans Are Doing It for Themselves

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Majority of South Africans Say Communities Are Taking Over Government’s Job

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Only Upsides for SA’s Middle Classes if They Do These Things

FRANS CRONJE

How To Thrive In South Africa's Enclave Future: (Members Special)

FRANS CRONJE

South Africans Are Doing It for Themselves

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Majority of South Africans Say Communities Are Taking Over Government’s Job

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Only Upsides for SA’s Middle Classes if They Do These Things

FRANS CRONJE

PLITICS

VIEW ALL

This is What Families Must do to Survive a Future South Africa

The Common Sense’s guide to South Africa's enclave future.

FRANS CRONJE

Number of Candidates for '26 Election Surges Compared to '21

POLITICS DESK

Compulsory Critical Race Theory at UKZN

RICHARD WILKINSON

Meyer’s Mission Fails in Washington

POLITICS DESK

Severe Blow to ANC in Six Municipalities Ahead of Local Government Elections

POLITICS DESK

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Sign up to receive

The Common Sense

daily mailer

Our sharpest stories, straight to your inbox.

By clicking Subscribe you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

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Sign up to receive

The Common Sense

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Our sharpest stories, straight to your inbox.

By clicking Subscribe you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

LGE 2026: Latest Polling

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Special Report: Election 2026 — The Latest Polling

The latest polling from the SRF and The Common Sense reveals where South Africans stand ahead of the November 2026 local elections, from party support and presidential succession to the GNU, immigration, corruption, and expropriation.

GABRIEL MAKIN

-

15.8.2026

The ANC Still Has a Way Back

POLITICS DESK

Is the “Third Force” Back – And Driving Political Change in South Africa?

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

This Is Who Black South Africans Want to Vote For

STAFF WRITER

What the ANC’s Terminal Decline Means for the Future of South Africa

FRANS CRONJE

The ANC Still Has a Way Back

POLITICS DESK

Is the “Third Force” Back – And Driving Political Change in South Africa?

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

This Is Who Black South Africans Want to Vote For

STAFF WRITER

What the ANC’s Terminal Decline Means for the Future of South Africa

FRANS CRONJE

GLBAL

VIEW ALL

The Architects of Perception: Soviet Defectors and the Anatomy of Active Measures

It is timely to publish a reminder from history that in the world of global politics nothing should be taken at face value.

MAHAN

Farm Attack Survivors to Take Their Stories to Washington

STAFF WRITER

No Sunshine if Ukraine Falls

GREG MILLS AND RAY HARTLEY

Far-Right AfD Nearly Wins German State Outright

FOREIGN DESK

How Long Can You Choose Not to Choose?

PAULA SLIER

PDCASTS

VIEW ALL

Springboks For Sale, America Sanctions the ANC, a Serial Killer, Somaliland, and the Enclave Future

THE COMMON SENSE

-

18.9.2026

MKP Is Now Level With The ANC In Johannesburg

THE COMMON SENSE

-

17.9.2026

Kenya Is Refusing the Two Million Tonnes of Maize It Needs

THE COMMON SENSE

-

16.9.2026

South Africa's Election Maths Problem, the Black Vote Shatters, the Falklands, and Wouter Basson

THE COMMON SENSE

-

11.9.2026

Springboks For Sale, America Sanctions the ANC, a Serial Killer, Somaliland, and the Enclave Future

THE COMMON SENSE

-

18.9.2026

MKP Is Now Level With The ANC In Johannesburg

THE COMMON SENSE

-

17.9.2026

Kenya Is Refusing the Two Million Tonnes of Maize It Needs

THE COMMON SENSE

-

16.9.2026

South Africa's Election Maths Problem, the Black Vote Shatters, the Falklands, and Wouter Basson

THE COMMON SENSE

-

11.9.2026

ECNOMICS

VIEW ALL

JSE Has Shrunk By 40% in 20 Years

The number of listed companies on the JSE continues to fall, shrinking the investment pool for South Africans saving for retirement.

ECONOMICS DESK

Fed Increases Rates, Upping Hike Prospects for SA Next Week

ECONOMICS DESK

Kenya Should Remove the Restrictions on GMO Maize Imports

WANDILE SIHLOBO

Mahlobo Expects Rate Hikes in the US and Japan This Week

ECONOMICS DESK

South African Cherries Win Duty-Free Access to China

NEWS DESK

LFE

Is Your TV Spying on You?

You think you’re watching your TV? It is probably watching you.

NEWS DESK

Is Your TV Spying on You?

Stick to the Bible at Mass

Your Retirement Savings Are Held Hostage by an Outdated Checklist

SPRTS

This is Why the Springboks Were Playing in Baltimore

The Springboks’ Baltimore appearance showcased a US expansion strategy that could reshape rugby’s finances and increase the value of the team’s commercial rights.

SPORTS DESK