The Common Sense’s Diary - What the DA and FF+ Have Got Wrong

A rude joke, RW said it well, a disappointing DA, a dishonest DA, what the FF+ has always gotten wrong, what happened to politics “for the good of the country”, what the left gets wrong, TE Lawrence warned of where the infighting leads.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

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2.6.2026

“Los die PA se Naam Uit Jou Mond Uit!” McKenzie Scolds Jacobs

STAFF WRITER -

2.6.2026

Stay the Course of Reform, Says BLSA CEO

ECONOMICS DESK -

2.6.2026

Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana to Chair Ramaphosa Impeachment Committee

NEWS DESK -

2.6.2026

Good News (and Some Bad News) For the Economy – Stats SA

ECON DESK -

2.6.2026

Is Informal Economy Keeping SA Going?

STAFF WRITER

- 2.6.2026

US and Iran Still on Track for Deal to Drop Oil Prices

STAFF WRITER

- 2.6.2026

Van der Rheede’s Puzzling Formalism Over (Scare-Quoted) “Race Law”

MARTIN VAN STADEN

- 2.6.2026

Taking Over Jo'burg Could Destroy the DA, Here's Why

GABRIEL MAKIN

- 2.6.2026

Hill-Lewis Says SA Faces Choice Between Left-Wing Failure and Growth-Led Reform

POLITICS DESK

- 1.6.2026

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Only 10% of Young People Absorbed into SA’s Labour Market (But There’s a Fix)

Statistics South Africa’s latest youth labour market figures show a country in which millions of young people are being locked out of work before their adult lives have properly begun.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

How South Africa Can Double its GDP and Cut Unemployment to 10%

Last week The Common Sense ran a set of worst-case economic, currency, and rates projections for South Africa over the next decade. This week it follows up on that with the best case, arguing that each extreme is a plausible scenario based on who follows Cyril Ramaphosa as ANC leader, what the DA does, and whether the GNU holds together.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

SA Needs a Better DA Than This

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

School Capture is Real, and Will Stunt Your Child's Emotional and Intellectual Development

RW JOHNSON

The ANC Succession Tells a Story

GABRIEL MAKIN

The Battle for the Anglican Church’s Soul

SHRTS

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PLLING

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Metro Voters Say SA is Going the Wrong Way

Social Research Foundation polling shows deep pessimism about South Africa’s direction among black respondents and ANC supporters in eThekwini, Johannesburg, and Tshwane.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

SA Split on Race of President

Social Research Foundation polling found that voters are split on whether a governing party must have a black leader to succeed.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Overwhelmingly Support Merit

A survey by the Institute of Race Relations found that 92% of South Africans believe national sports teams should be selected on merit rather than race.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Think The GNU is Working Well

Polling suggests South Africans have confidence in the GNU, with 49% saying it is working well, including 50% of ANC voters and 56% of DA voters.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Half of SA’s Youth Are Outside the Labour Force

Stats SA data shows that half of South Africa’s youth are outside the labour force entirely, while only 27% of those aged 15 to 34 are employed.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Motsepe Leads ANC Leadership Race on Favourability

SRF polling finds Patrice Motsepe has the strongest favourability among three possible ANC leadership contenders, while Mbalula and Mashatile record higher negative ratings.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Back Vote Against President

Just more than half of South Africans support a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Atheists Back the Pope More than Catholics Do

Pope has higher levels of support from atheists in the US than from American Catholics.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Views of British Muslims on Extremist Organisations

British think tank surveyed British Muslims on their views on a number of extremist groups.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Metro Voters Say SA is Going the Wrong Way

Social Research Foundation polling shows deep pessimism about South Africa’s direction among black respondents and ANC supporters in eThekwini, Johannesburg, and Tshwane.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

SA Split on Race of President

Social Research Foundation polling found that voters are split on whether a governing party must have a black leader to succeed.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Overwhelmingly Support Merit

A survey by the Institute of Race Relations found that 92% of South Africans believe national sports teams should be selected on merit rather than race.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Think The GNU is Working Well

Polling suggests South Africans have confidence in the GNU, with 49% saying it is working well, including 50% of ANC voters and 56% of DA voters.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Half of SA’s Youth Are Outside the Labour Force

Stats SA data shows that half of South Africa’s youth are outside the labour force entirely, while only 27% of those aged 15 to 34 are employed.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Motsepe Leads ANC Leadership Race on Favourability

SRF polling finds Patrice Motsepe has the strongest favourability among three possible ANC leadership contenders, while Mbalula and Mashatile record higher negative ratings.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Back Vote Against President

Just more than half of South Africans support a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Atheists Back the Pope More than Catholics Do

Pope has higher levels of support from atheists in the US than from American Catholics.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Views of British Muslims on Extremist Organisations

British think tank surveyed British Muslims on their views on a number of extremist groups.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Metro Voters Say SA is Going the Wrong Way

Social Research Foundation polling shows deep pessimism about South Africa’s direction among black respondents and ANC supporters in eThekwini, Johannesburg, and Tshwane.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

SA Split on Race of President

Social Research Foundation polling found that voters are split on whether a governing party must have a black leader to succeed.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Overwhelmingly Support Merit

A survey by the Institute of Race Relations found that 92% of South Africans believe national sports teams should be selected on merit rather than race.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Think The GNU is Working Well

Polling suggests South Africans have confidence in the GNU, with 49% saying it is working well, including 50% of ANC voters and 56% of DA voters.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Half of SA’s Youth Are Outside the Labour Force

Stats SA data shows that half of South Africa’s youth are outside the labour force entirely, while only 27% of those aged 15 to 34 are employed.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Motsepe Leads ANC Leadership Race on Favourability

SRF polling finds Patrice Motsepe has the strongest favourability among three possible ANC leadership contenders, while Mbalula and Mashatile record higher negative ratings.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Back Vote Against President

Just more than half of South Africans support a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Atheists Back the Pope More than Catholics Do

Pope has higher levels of support from atheists in the US than from American Catholics.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Views of British Muslims on Extremist Organisations

British think tank surveyed British Muslims on their views on a number of extremist groups.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Metro Voters Say SA is Going the Wrong Way

Social Research Foundation polling shows deep pessimism about South Africa’s direction among black respondents and ANC supporters in eThekwini, Johannesburg, and Tshwane.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

SA Split on Race of President

Social Research Foundation polling found that voters are split on whether a governing party must have a black leader to succeed.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Overwhelmingly Support Merit

A survey by the Institute of Race Relations found that 92% of South Africans believe national sports teams should be selected on merit rather than race.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Think The GNU is Working Well

Polling suggests South Africans have confidence in the GNU, with 49% saying it is working well, including 50% of ANC voters and 56% of DA voters.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Half of SA’s Youth Are Outside the Labour Force

Stats SA data shows that half of South Africa’s youth are outside the labour force entirely, while only 27% of those aged 15 to 34 are employed.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Motsepe Leads ANC Leadership Race on Favourability

SRF polling finds Patrice Motsepe has the strongest favourability among three possible ANC leadership contenders, while Mbalula and Mashatile record higher negative ratings.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Back Vote Against President

Just more than half of South Africans support a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Atheists Back the Pope More than Catholics Do

Pope has higher levels of support from atheists in the US than from American Catholics.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Views of British Muslims on Extremist Organisations

British think tank surveyed British Muslims on their views on a number of extremist groups.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

VIDES

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Taking Over Jo'burg Could Destroy the DA, Here's Why

THE COMMON SENSE

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2.6.2026

Where Did the Cash in Ramaphosa's Couch Come From?

THE COMMON SENSE

-

29.5.2026

This Is How The Iran War Ends

THE COMMON SENSE

-

27.5.2026

Ramaphosa's Delusional Defense Of BEE

THE COMMON SENSE

-

27.5.2026

What Should The DA Do About Phala Phala?

THE COMMON SENSE

-

24.5.2026

Taking Over Jo'burg Could Destroy the DA, Here's Why

THE COMMON SENSE

-

2.6.2026

Where Did the Cash in Ramaphosa's Couch Come From?

THE COMMON SENSE

-

29.5.2026

This Is How The Iran War Ends

THE COMMON SENSE

-

27.5.2026

Ramaphosa's Delusional Defense Of BEE

THE COMMON SENSE

-

27.5.2026

What Should The DA Do About Phala Phala?

THE COMMON SENSE

-

24.5.2026

Ramaphosa On the Brink

What Is in the Section 89 Report? The Damning Case Against Ramaphosa on Phala Phala

The Common Sense lays out the devastating charges against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

NEWS DESK

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2.6.2026

Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana to Chair Ramaphosa Impeachment Committee

NEWS DESK

The ANC Succession Tells a Story

RW JOHNSON

Ramaphosa Must Testify Before Parliament

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Where Did the Cash in Ramaphosa's Couch Come From?

JAMES MYBURGH

Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana to Chair Ramaphosa Impeachment Committee

NEWS DESK

The ANC Succession Tells a Story

RW JOHNSON

Ramaphosa Must Testify Before Parliament

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Where Did the Cash in Ramaphosa's Couch Come From?

JAMES MYBURGH

PLITICS

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“Los die PA se Naam Uit Jou Mond Uit!” McKenzie Scolds Jacobs

Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie rebukes Liam Jacobs, who redefected to the DA, after being in the PA.

STAFF WRITER

Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana to Chair Ramaphosa Impeachment Committee

NEWS DESK

Hill-Lewis Says SA Faces Choice Between Left-Wing Failure and Growth-Led Reform

POLITICS DESK

SA Considers Balance of Forces in Genocide Case Extension Request

NEWS DESK

Woolworths Bombings: Terrorism or Extortion?

STAFF WRITER

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The War on Iran

The War in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz: Six Scenarios and How They Will Shape the Global Economy

In this Special Report, The Common Sense sets out six detailed scenarios for the war in Iran together with the global and market implications.

FRANS CRONJE

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1.6.2026

SA Petrol Price Could Fall Steeply as War Premium Fades

ECONOMICS DESK

Iran War Risks Overstated from Day One

STAFF WRITER

This Is How The Iran War Ends

FRANS CRONJE

Firm Says Iran War Exit Point Bodes Well for Investors

STAFF WRITER

SA Petrol Price Could Fall Steeply as War Premium Fades

ECONOMICS DESK

Iran War Risks Overstated from Day One

STAFF WRITER

This Is How The Iran War Ends

FRANS CRONJE

Firm Says Iran War Exit Point Bodes Well for Investors

STAFF WRITER

GLBAL

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US and Iran Still on Track for Deal to Drop Oil Prices

Iran and the United States remain on track for a deal that could extend the current ceasefire by 60 days, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and create the basis for further talks on Iran stepping back from its nuclear ambitions.

STAFF WRITER