The Global Debt Monster and Its Implications

Global debt levels have doubled since the end of the Second World War, setting up the most important investment call of a generation.

BHEKI MAHLOBO

-

22.10.2026

The First 50 Metres of Fixing South Africa’s Towns and Cities

THE EDITORIAL BOARD -

22.10.2026

South Africans Say Their Communities Are Taking Over the Government’s Duties

POLITICS DESK -

22.10.2026

Why South Africa Is One of the Best Countries in the World to Be Middle Class

ECON DESK -

22.10.2026

Princy Mthombeni: Hire South Africans First

CONVERSATIONS WITH GABRIEL -

22.10.2026

Internal ANC Factional Battles and ANC Splits

OMRY MAKGOALE

- 21.10.2026

BEE Makes a Few Rich, Costs South Africa Far More

STAFF WRITER

- 21.10.2026

Saldanha: Another New Beginning?

JADE DAVENPORT

- 21.10.2026

Hill-Lewis Calls for Record Turnout After Mitchells Plain Stay

STAFF WRITER

- 21.10.2026

SARB Rate Hike Looms as Fuel Costs Lift SA Inflation to 4.5%

ECONOMICS DESK

- 21.10.2026

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Black and White, ANC and DA, We Can Build a Great Country

There is something good, decent, and positive in how South Africans view each other across the country’s historical divides.

RICHARD WILKINSON

Everything Turns on Whether ActionSA’s Polling Numbers are Right

ActionSA’s surprisingly strong polling numbers could determine whether the DA wins outright majorities in Johannesburg and Tshwane or is forced into difficult coalition negotiations.

FRANS CRONJE

This is Why The Common Sense was Created: The Case for Optimism About South Africa and Its People

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

The Common Sense’s Diary – Can the ANC and DA Work Together?

WANDILE SIHLOBO

South Africa’s Agriculture Has a Plan to Unleash Growth, and It Must be Implemented

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Vote for Helen Zille in November

SHRTS

VIEW ALL

PLLING

VIEW ALL

More Voters Think South Africa is on The Right Track Than in 2022

Polling since 2022 shows how voters judge the direction the country is taking. Is the mood brighter than it was?

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

White and Coloured Voters are Far Less Gloomy About South Africa Than in 2022

The national mood is brighter than it was in 2022. Whose outlook has changed most, and how do population groups compare today?

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Three in Four Voters Over 65 Now View the ANC Unfavourably

Older voters were evenly split on the ANC at the start of last year. Where do they stand now? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Hill-Lewis Has Gained Among White and Coloured Voters, While Black Voters Have Not Moved

Last week we showed more voters liking the DA's new leader as they got to know him. Which voters are they? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

One in Four DA Voters Now Dislike Steenhuisen, Up From One in Ten

He led the DA into the GNU and handed over to Hill-Lewis in April. How do his own party's voters rate him now? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

More Voters Like Groenewald Than Did Last Year, and No More Dislike Him

Pieter Groenewald leads the smallest party in the GNU and runs its prisons. How do voters rate him, and which way is it moving? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Seven in Ten ANC Voters Still Like Ramaphosa, Down From More Than Eight in Ten

Ramaphosa's standing with voters as a whole has fallen in every round. What about his own party's voters? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

DA Voters Have Turned Against Gayton McKenzie

Eighteen months ago DA voters liked the Patriotic Alliance leader more than they disliked him. What do they think now? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

As More Voters Get to Know Hill-Lewis, More of Them Like Him

Six months into the job, how do voters rate the DA's new leader, and how many have a view at all? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

More Voters Think South Africa is on The Right Track Than in 2022

Polling since 2022 shows how voters judge the direction the country is taking. Is the mood brighter than it was?

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

White and Coloured Voters are Far Less Gloomy About South Africa Than in 2022

The national mood is brighter than it was in 2022. Whose outlook has changed most, and how do population groups compare today?

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Three in Four Voters Over 65 Now View the ANC Unfavourably

Older voters were evenly split on the ANC at the start of last year. Where do they stand now? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Hill-Lewis Has Gained Among White and Coloured Voters, While Black Voters Have Not Moved

Last week we showed more voters liking the DA's new leader as they got to know him. Which voters are they? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

One in Four DA Voters Now Dislike Steenhuisen, Up From One in Ten

He led the DA into the GNU and handed over to Hill-Lewis in April. How do his own party's voters rate him now? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

More Voters Like Groenewald Than Did Last Year, and No More Dislike Him

Pieter Groenewald leads the smallest party in the GNU and runs its prisons. How do voters rate him, and which way is it moving? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Seven in Ten ANC Voters Still Like Ramaphosa, Down From More Than Eight in Ten

Ramaphosa's standing with voters as a whole has fallen in every round. What about his own party's voters? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

DA Voters Have Turned Against Gayton McKenzie

Eighteen months ago DA voters liked the Patriotic Alliance leader more than they disliked him. What do they think now? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

As More Voters Get to Know Hill-Lewis, More of Them Like Him

Six months into the job, how do voters rate the DA's new leader, and how many have a view at all? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

More Voters Think South Africa is on The Right Track Than in 2022

Polling since 2022 shows how voters judge the direction the country is taking. Is the mood brighter than it was?

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

White and Coloured Voters are Far Less Gloomy About South Africa Than in 2022

The national mood is brighter than it was in 2022. Whose outlook has changed most, and how do population groups compare today?

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Three in Four Voters Over 65 Now View the ANC Unfavourably

Older voters were evenly split on the ANC at the start of last year. Where do they stand now? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Hill-Lewis Has Gained Among White and Coloured Voters, While Black Voters Have Not Moved

Last week we showed more voters liking the DA's new leader as they got to know him. Which voters are they? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

One in Four DA Voters Now Dislike Steenhuisen, Up From One in Ten

He led the DA into the GNU and handed over to Hill-Lewis in April. How do his own party's voters rate him now? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

More Voters Like Groenewald Than Did Last Year, and No More Dislike Him

Pieter Groenewald leads the smallest party in the GNU and runs its prisons. How do voters rate him, and which way is it moving? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Seven in Ten ANC Voters Still Like Ramaphosa, Down From More Than Eight in Ten

Ramaphosa's standing with voters as a whole has fallen in every round. What about his own party's voters? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

DA Voters Have Turned Against Gayton McKenzie

Eighteen months ago DA voters liked the Patriotic Alliance leader more than they disliked him. What do they think now? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

As More Voters Get to Know Hill-Lewis, More of Them Like Him

Six months into the job, how do voters rate the DA's new leader, and how many have a view at all? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

More Voters Think South Africa is on The Right Track Than in 2022

Polling since 2022 shows how voters judge the direction the country is taking. Is the mood brighter than it was?

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

White and Coloured Voters are Far Less Gloomy About South Africa Than in 2022

The national mood is brighter than it was in 2022. Whose outlook has changed most, and how do population groups compare today?

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Three in Four Voters Over 65 Now View the ANC Unfavourably

Older voters were evenly split on the ANC at the start of last year. Where do they stand now? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Hill-Lewis Has Gained Among White and Coloured Voters, While Black Voters Have Not Moved

Last week we showed more voters liking the DA's new leader as they got to know him. Which voters are they? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

One in Four DA Voters Now Dislike Steenhuisen, Up From One in Ten

He led the DA into the GNU and handed over to Hill-Lewis in April. How do his own party's voters rate him now? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

More Voters Like Groenewald Than Did Last Year, and No More Dislike Him

Pieter Groenewald leads the smallest party in the GNU and runs its prisons. How do voters rate him, and which way is it moving? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Seven in Ten ANC Voters Still Like Ramaphosa, Down From More Than Eight in Ten

Ramaphosa's standing with voters as a whole has fallen in every round. What about his own party's voters? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

DA Voters Have Turned Against Gayton McKenzie

Eighteen months ago DA voters liked the Patriotic Alliance leader more than they disliked him. What do they think now? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

As More Voters Get to Know Hill-Lewis, More of Them Like Him

Six months into the job, how do voters rate the DA's new leader, and how many have a view at all? We have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

VIDES

VIEW ALL

Wandile Sihlobo: South Africa Already Has a Plan to Grow Farming. It Was Never Implemented

THE COMMON SENSE

-

20.10.2026

Bheki Mahlobo: South Africa’s Investment Rate Has Fallen. The Consequences Have Been Dire

THE COMMON SENSE

-

15.10.2026

Wandile Sihlobo: The State Is Finally Handing Farmers the Title Deeds to Its Land

THE COMMON SENSE

-

14.10.2026

Jacob Zuma and What Might Have Been

THE COMMON SENSE

-

13.10.2026

Investors Think South Africa Is Safe Again. November's Elections Could Prove Them Wrong

THE COMMON SENSE

-

1.10.2026

Wandile Sihlobo: South Africa Already Has a Plan to Grow Farming. It Was Never Implemented

THE COMMON SENSE

-

20.10.2026

Bheki Mahlobo: South Africa’s Investment Rate Has Fallen. The Consequences Have Been Dire

THE COMMON SENSE

-

15.10.2026

Wandile Sihlobo: The State Is Finally Handing Farmers the Title Deeds to Its Land

THE COMMON SENSE

-

14.10.2026

Jacob Zuma and What Might Have Been

THE COMMON SENSE

-

13.10.2026

Investors Think South Africa Is Safe Again. November's Elections Could Prove Them Wrong

THE COMMON SENSE

-

1.10.2026

Thriving in SA’s enclaves

VIEW ALL

The Common Sense's Latest Scenarios: Reform Now Less Likely

In this subscribers-only video Frans Cronje discusses the latest scenarios from The Common Sense and explains what has changed.

FRANS CRONJE

-

7.10.2026

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

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

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

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

PLITICS

VIEW ALL

The First 50 Metres of Fixing South Africa’s Towns and Cities

More communities are finding hope in taking charge of the sidewalks and intersections around them – and finding great satisfaction in doing so.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

South Africans Say Their Communities Are Taking Over the Government’s Duties

POLITICS DESK

BEE Makes a Few Rich, Costs South Africa Far More

STAFF WRITER

Hill-Lewis Calls for Record Turnout After Mitchells Plain Stay

STAFF WRITER

Alberta Voters Deliver Crushing Defeat to Separatist Movement

STAFF WRITER

LISTEN NOW

LISTEN NOW

LISTEN NOW

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.

LISTEN NOW

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.

LISTEN NOW

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.

GLBAL

VIEW ALL

Alberta Referendum Puts Canada’s Unity to the Test

Canadian province holds plebiscite on independence.

FOREIGN DESK

Bolsonaro Leads Lula as Latin America Shifts Right

FOREIGN DESK

Ethiopia and Eritrea Risk Another Devastating War

PAULA SLIER

Dispatch from Washington

RICHARD TREN

The World’s Choices: Civilisation or Destruction

SIMON LINCOLN READER

PDCASTS

VIEW ALL

Princy Mthombeni: Hire South Africans First

THE COMMON SENSE

-

22.10.2026

Bozell Says South Africa Could Be One of the Biggest Economies on Earth

THE COMMON SENSE

-

21.10.2026

Will Zuma's Death Boost MK? DA's Rubio Blunder, Guilfoyle, Ilhan Omar, the IMF, and the Mini-Budget

THE COMMON SENSE

-

17.10.2026

Helen Zille: Johannesburg is Over the Edge, and the DA Won’t Stay in Power at All Costs

THE COMMON SENSE

-

16.10.2026

Princy Mthombeni: Hire South Africans First

THE COMMON SENSE

-

22.10.2026

Bozell Says South Africa Could Be One of the Biggest Economies on Earth

THE COMMON SENSE

-

21.10.2026

Will Zuma's Death Boost MK? DA's Rubio Blunder, Guilfoyle, Ilhan Omar, the IMF, and the Mini-Budget

THE COMMON SENSE

-

17.10.2026

Helen Zille: Johannesburg is Over the Edge, and the DA Won’t Stay in Power at All Costs

THE COMMON SENSE

-

16.10.2026

ECNOMICS

VIEW ALL