Estimating What South Africa Would Gain from Exploiting Its Oil and Gas Reserves

Last week the Constitutional Court largely shut the door on oil and gas exploration and development in South Africa. The losses will be staggering.

BHEKI MAHLOBO

-

19.8.2026

Is The Common Sense Too Pro-ANC?

THE EDITORIAL BOARD -

19.8.2026

Police Guns Leak onto South Africa’s Dangerous Streets

STAFF WRITER -

19.8.2026

Proposed New Development in Cape Town Tests Public Participation and Rational Decision-Making

MIKE FLAX -

19.8.2026

What Happens to Pretoria if the DA Wins Back Tshwane?

CONVERSATIONS WITH GABRIEL -

19.8.2026

MKP Exposes Decline of Democratic Values in South Africa

OMRY MAKGOALE

- 18.8.2026

How South Africa Gets to Work

REINE OPPERMAN

- 18.8.2026

The Common Sense’s Diary

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

- 18.8.2026

Have the SRF and The Common Sense Underestimated the DA in Johannesburg?

POLITICS DESK

- 18.8.2026

The Likely AGOA Extension is Positive for South Africa’s Agriculture

WANDILE SIHLOBO

- 18.8.2026

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Real Deep Insight – Black South Africans and Trump’s America

It makes a lot of sense that black South Africans are more likely than whites to sign up for Trump’s refugee programme.

DAVID ANSARA

The Comrades Marathon Goes It Alone

David Ansara writes on the decision by the Comrades Marathon Association to end its affiliation with provincial and national athletics bodies.

RICHARD TREN

Fire on the Point — Quis Nisi Nos?

VIV VERMAAK

The South African Liberal Identity Crisis: If it Can Move Right, Can it Also Move Left?

SIMON LINCOLN READER

The Strange Case of Zack and Jason

SHRTS

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PLLING

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Ramaphosa's Unfavourability Outstrips His Support

We asked voters how warmly they feel about South Africa's most senior ANC politicians, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Two Thirds of Voters Back an ANC–DA Coalition

We asked voters whether the ANC and DA should govern together where neither wins a majority, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Only One in Eight Voters Believe Ramaphosa Is Innocent

We asked voters what they make of the Phala Phala allegations against Cyril Ramaphosa, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Voters Warn Against Swapping the DA for the EFF and MKP

We asked voters what would happen if the DA were pushed out of the GNU and replaced by the EFF and MKP, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

More Voters Think South Africa Would Improve Without Ramaphosa Than Worsen

We asked voters what would happen to the country if Cyril Ramaphosa left office, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Half of Voters Would Guarantee US Firms Against Expropriation

We asked voters whether American investments should be protected from being taken by the state, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Malema Is South Africa's Most Unpopular Politician

We asked voters how warmly they feel about South Africa's leading opposition figures, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Most Voters Back Communities Removing Immigrants Themselves

We asked voters whether communities have the right to remove foreign immigrants when government does not, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Support for Political Parties in eThekwini

New polling from The Common Sense and the Social Research Foundation shows ANC support in the city sliding into territory it has never touched before in eThekwini

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Ramaphosa's Unfavourability Outstrips His Support

We asked voters how warmly they feel about South Africa's most senior ANC politicians, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Two Thirds of Voters Back an ANC–DA Coalition

We asked voters whether the ANC and DA should govern together where neither wins a majority, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Only One in Eight Voters Believe Ramaphosa Is Innocent

We asked voters what they make of the Phala Phala allegations against Cyril Ramaphosa, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Voters Warn Against Swapping the DA for the EFF and MKP

We asked voters what would happen if the DA were pushed out of the GNU and replaced by the EFF and MKP, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

More Voters Think South Africa Would Improve Without Ramaphosa Than Worsen

We asked voters what would happen to the country if Cyril Ramaphosa left office, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Half of Voters Would Guarantee US Firms Against Expropriation

We asked voters whether American investments should be protected from being taken by the state, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Malema Is South Africa's Most Unpopular Politician

We asked voters how warmly they feel about South Africa's leading opposition figures, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Most Voters Back Communities Removing Immigrants Themselves

We asked voters whether communities have the right to remove foreign immigrants when government does not, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Support for Political Parties in eThekwini

New polling from The Common Sense and the Social Research Foundation shows ANC support in the city sliding into territory it has never touched before in eThekwini

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Ramaphosa's Unfavourability Outstrips His Support

We asked voters how warmly they feel about South Africa's most senior ANC politicians, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Two Thirds of Voters Back an ANC–DA Coalition

We asked voters whether the ANC and DA should govern together where neither wins a majority, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Only One in Eight Voters Believe Ramaphosa Is Innocent

We asked voters what they make of the Phala Phala allegations against Cyril Ramaphosa, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Voters Warn Against Swapping the DA for the EFF and MKP

We asked voters what would happen if the DA were pushed out of the GNU and replaced by the EFF and MKP, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

More Voters Think South Africa Would Improve Without Ramaphosa Than Worsen

We asked voters what would happen to the country if Cyril Ramaphosa left office, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Half of Voters Would Guarantee US Firms Against Expropriation

We asked voters whether American investments should be protected from being taken by the state, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Malema Is South Africa's Most Unpopular Politician

We asked voters how warmly they feel about South Africa's leading opposition figures, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Most Voters Back Communities Removing Immigrants Themselves

We asked voters whether communities have the right to remove foreign immigrants when government does not, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Support for Political Parties in eThekwini

New polling from The Common Sense and the Social Research Foundation shows ANC support in the city sliding into territory it has never touched before in eThekwini

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Ramaphosa's Unfavourability Outstrips His Support

We asked voters how warmly they feel about South Africa's most senior ANC politicians, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Two Thirds of Voters Back an ANC–DA Coalition

We asked voters whether the ANC and DA should govern together where neither wins a majority, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Only One in Eight Voters Believe Ramaphosa Is Innocent

We asked voters what they make of the Phala Phala allegations against Cyril Ramaphosa, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Voters Warn Against Swapping the DA for the EFF and MKP

We asked voters what would happen if the DA were pushed out of the GNU and replaced by the EFF and MKP, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

More Voters Think South Africa Would Improve Without Ramaphosa Than Worsen

We asked voters what would happen to the country if Cyril Ramaphosa left office, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Half of Voters Would Guarantee US Firms Against Expropriation

We asked voters whether American investments should be protected from being taken by the state, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Malema Is South Africa's Most Unpopular Politician

We asked voters how warmly they feel about South Africa's leading opposition figures, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Most Voters Back Communities Removing Immigrants Themselves

We asked voters whether communities have the right to remove foreign immigrants when government does not, and we have the answers, visualised just for you.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Support for Political Parties in eThekwini

New polling from The Common Sense and the Social Research Foundation shows ANC support in the city sliding into territory it has never touched before in eThekwini

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

VIDES

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New Poll: The DA Leads in Pretoria as ANC Support Collapses to 32%

THE COMMON SENSE

-

13.8.2026

New Poll: South Africans Want Patrice Motsepe to Replace Ramaphosa

THE COMMON SENSE

-

12.8.2026

82% Of South Africans Want Ramaphosa Removed.

THE COMMON SENSE

-

9.8.2026

The Public Has Stopped Believing In The GNU

THE COMMON SENSE

-

7.8.2026

New Poll: The DA Leads in Pretoria as ANC Support Collapses to 32%

THE COMMON SENSE

-

13.8.2026

New Poll: South Africans Want Patrice Motsepe to Replace Ramaphosa

THE COMMON SENSE

-

12.8.2026

82% Of South Africans Want Ramaphosa Removed.

THE COMMON SENSE

-

9.8.2026

The Public Has Stopped Believing In The GNU

THE COMMON SENSE

-

7.8.2026

LGE 2026: Latest Polling

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

PLITICS

VIEW ALL

MKP Exposes Decline of Democratic Values in South Africa

Former uMkhonto weSizwe commander Omry Makgoale writes critically on Jacob Zuma and the MKP.

OMRY MAKGOALE

The Common Sense’s Diary

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Have the SRF and The Common Sense Underestimated the DA in Johannesburg?

POLITICS DESK

More Black South Africans Would Want to Become Refugees to the US Than Whites

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Real Deep Insight – Black South Africans and Trump’s America

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

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Scenarios: SA in 2034

South Africa in 2034: The Latest Scenarios

Advisory firm Frans Cronje Private Clients, in conjunction with The Common Sense, sketches three political scenarios for South Africa between today and 2034 each of which delivers a very different set of economic outcomes.

FRANS CRONJE AND BHEKI MAHLOBO

-

31.7.2026

Why South Africa is Too Uncertain Now for Forecast

STAFF WRITER

South Africa’s Path Back to a 4% Rate of Economic Growth

ECONOMICS DESK

The ANC Can Get Back to a Majority – and Democratically Too

POLITICS DESK

This is What Will Happen to South Africa by 2034 (We Are Almost Sure)

STAFF WRITER

Why South Africa is Too Uncertain Now for Forecast

STAFF WRITER

South Africa’s Path Back to a 4% Rate of Economic Growth

ECONOMICS DESK

The ANC Can Get Back to a Majority – and Democratically Too

POLITICS DESK

This is What Will Happen to South Africa by 2034 (We Are Almost Sure)

STAFF WRITER

GLBAL

VIEW ALL

Dispatch From Washington

Richard Tren writes on the view from Washington on the latest global developments.

RICHARD TREN

Fire on the Point — Quis Nisi Nos?

GREG MILLS

Young Africans Like Trump Even Though They Do Not Trust Him

WARWICK GREY

The Chinese Are Keeping Dogs – Posing a New Threat to Beijing

FOREIGN DESK

Terrorist Attacks on Berlin Pride a Warning About Terror Groups in Europe

STAFF WRITER

PDCASTS

VIEW ALL

What Happens to Pretoria if the DA Wins Back Tshwane?

THE COMMON SENSE

-

19.8.2026

Every Chart That Decides South Africa's 2026 Election

THE COMMON SENSE

-

17.8.2026

America is extending AGOA. What SA Farmers Actually Get — with Wandile Sihlobo

THE COMMON SENSE

-

17.8.2026

Duduzane Zuma, the DA Manifesto, and America’s Cost of Living

THE COMMON SENSE

-

16.8.2026

What Happens to Pretoria if the DA Wins Back Tshwane?

THE COMMON SENSE

-

19.8.2026

Every Chart That Decides South Africa's 2026 Election

THE COMMON SENSE

-

17.8.2026

America is extending AGOA. What SA Farmers Actually Get — with Wandile Sihlobo

THE COMMON SENSE

-

17.8.2026

Duduzane Zuma, the DA Manifesto, and America’s Cost of Living

THE COMMON SENSE

-

16.8.2026

ECNOMICS

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