Number of Social Grants Paid Out Dwarfs Number of Income Taxpayers in SA

The number of social grants being paid out is three times as many as the number of individual income taxpayers – revealing an important check and balance on the populist instincts of the state.

NEWS DESK

-

4.8.2026

Export Expansion is Crucial for the Long-Term Growth of SA Agriculture

WANDILE SIHLOBO -

4.8.2026

Zille, Running in Parks, and How the ANC Made an Enemy of the Middle Classes

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

- 3.8.2026

Five Hundred ANC Councillors Could Be Unemployed After November

POLITICS DESK

- 3.8.2026

Just How Dangerous Is a South African Farm? We Ran the Numbers

NEWS DESK

- 3.8.2026

Young Africans Like Trump Even Though They Do Not Trust Him

WARWICK GREY

- 3.8.2026

Revisiting the SARS Rogue Unit

GABRIEL MAKIN

- 3.8.2026

RICHARD TREN

Dispatch from Washington

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

GREG MILLS

The Empire Strikes Back

Greg Mills writes on the resistance of the Ukrainian people to oppression, currently and through history.

SIMON LINCOLN READER

The Mad Attack on FM and Currency

BENJI SHULMAN

What Colombia’s New President Means for South Africa

DAVID ANSARA

The Case Against the Expropriation Act

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Washington’s Crass Read of South Africa Gets It Wrong

SHRTS

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PLLING

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Views of the Supreme Court split sharply along party lines

Just a quarter of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents view the US Supreme Court favourably, one of the lowest ratings from either party since Pew began asking the question in 1987. Republicans remain far more positive at 69%, though that too is down from its 2019 peak. Overall favourability has fallen 20 points since April 2021.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Canada and Mexico Rate China Above the US

Both Canadians and Mexicans view China more favourably than the United States.

STAFF WRITER

Views on the China and US Threat

Canada sees the US as a bigger threat than China; the UK and Australia see China as a bigger threat than the US.

STAFF WRITER

What South Africans Want from Foreign Policy

Poll data show South Africans are marginally more like to align against the West than with it.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Polling Reveals Why the DA (Through Tony Leon) Was Targeted

Both nationally and in Johannesburg, voters are more inclined to associate the DA than the ANC with the idea of clean governance.

WARWICK GREY

More Than Half of Americans View NATO Favourably

In addition, a majority of people in most countries surveyed have a favourable view of the military alliance.

STAFF WRITER

Across Three Metros, the DA is Judged the Better GNU Partner

The Common Sense, in partnership with the Social Research Foundation, measured voter opinion in three of South Africa’s metros — Johannesburg, Tshwane and eThekwini. In each, respondents were asked whether the ANC and the DA were performing very well, quite well, quite poorly, or very poorly in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Working Mothers Carry the Heaviest Load

New polling from the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan US research organisation that tracks public attitudes and social trends, shows that working parents are struggling to keep family life and working life apart.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

DA Leads In Gauteng, ANC Close Behind

Social Research Foundation polling conducted in the first quarter asked registered voters in Gauteng which party they would support if local government elections were held today. The Gauteng sample is smaller than the national sample, meaning the provincial margin of error is higher and the results should be interpreted as a rough indication of support levels rather than a precise estimate of electoral outcomes.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Views of the Supreme Court split sharply along party lines

Just a quarter of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents view the US Supreme Court favourably, one of the lowest ratings from either party since Pew began asking the question in 1987. Republicans remain far more positive at 69%, though that too is down from its 2019 peak. Overall favourability has fallen 20 points since April 2021.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Canada and Mexico Rate China Above the US

Both Canadians and Mexicans view China more favourably than the United States.

STAFF WRITER

Views on the China and US Threat

Canada sees the US as a bigger threat than China; the UK and Australia see China as a bigger threat than the US.

STAFF WRITER

What South Africans Want from Foreign Policy

Poll data show South Africans are marginally more like to align against the West than with it.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Polling Reveals Why the DA (Through Tony Leon) Was Targeted

Both nationally and in Johannesburg, voters are more inclined to associate the DA than the ANC with the idea of clean governance.

WARWICK GREY

More Than Half of Americans View NATO Favourably

In addition, a majority of people in most countries surveyed have a favourable view of the military alliance.

STAFF WRITER

Across Three Metros, the DA is Judged the Better GNU Partner

The Common Sense, in partnership with the Social Research Foundation, measured voter opinion in three of South Africa’s metros — Johannesburg, Tshwane and eThekwini. In each, respondents were asked whether the ANC and the DA were performing very well, quite well, quite poorly, or very poorly in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Working Mothers Carry the Heaviest Load

New polling from the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan US research organisation that tracks public attitudes and social trends, shows that working parents are struggling to keep family life and working life apart.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

DA Leads In Gauteng, ANC Close Behind

Social Research Foundation polling conducted in the first quarter asked registered voters in Gauteng which party they would support if local government elections were held today. The Gauteng sample is smaller than the national sample, meaning the provincial margin of error is higher and the results should be interpreted as a rough indication of support levels rather than a precise estimate of electoral outcomes.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Views of the Supreme Court split sharply along party lines

Just a quarter of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents view the US Supreme Court favourably, one of the lowest ratings from either party since Pew began asking the question in 1987. Republicans remain far more positive at 69%, though that too is down from its 2019 peak. Overall favourability has fallen 20 points since April 2021.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Canada and Mexico Rate China Above the US

Both Canadians and Mexicans view China more favourably than the United States.

STAFF WRITER

Views on the China and US Threat

Canada sees the US as a bigger threat than China; the UK and Australia see China as a bigger threat than the US.

STAFF WRITER

What South Africans Want from Foreign Policy

Poll data show South Africans are marginally more like to align against the West than with it.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Polling Reveals Why the DA (Through Tony Leon) Was Targeted

Both nationally and in Johannesburg, voters are more inclined to associate the DA than the ANC with the idea of clean governance.

WARWICK GREY

More Than Half of Americans View NATO Favourably

In addition, a majority of people in most countries surveyed have a favourable view of the military alliance.

STAFF WRITER

Across Three Metros, the DA is Judged the Better GNU Partner

The Common Sense, in partnership with the Social Research Foundation, measured voter opinion in three of South Africa’s metros — Johannesburg, Tshwane and eThekwini. In each, respondents were asked whether the ANC and the DA were performing very well, quite well, quite poorly, or very poorly in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Working Mothers Carry the Heaviest Load

New polling from the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan US research organisation that tracks public attitudes and social trends, shows that working parents are struggling to keep family life and working life apart.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

DA Leads In Gauteng, ANC Close Behind

Social Research Foundation polling conducted in the first quarter asked registered voters in Gauteng which party they would support if local government elections were held today. The Gauteng sample is smaller than the national sample, meaning the provincial margin of error is higher and the results should be interpreted as a rough indication of support levels rather than a precise estimate of electoral outcomes.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Views of the Supreme Court split sharply along party lines

Just a quarter of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents view the US Supreme Court favourably, one of the lowest ratings from either party since Pew began asking the question in 1987. Republicans remain far more positive at 69%, though that too is down from its 2019 peak. Overall favourability has fallen 20 points since April 2021.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Canada and Mexico Rate China Above the US

Both Canadians and Mexicans view China more favourably than the United States.

STAFF WRITER

Views on the China and US Threat

Canada sees the US as a bigger threat than China; the UK and Australia see China as a bigger threat than the US.

STAFF WRITER

What South Africans Want from Foreign Policy

Poll data show South Africans are marginally more like to align against the West than with it.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Polling Reveals Why the DA (Through Tony Leon) Was Targeted

Both nationally and in Johannesburg, voters are more inclined to associate the DA than the ANC with the idea of clean governance.

WARWICK GREY

More Than Half of Americans View NATO Favourably

In addition, a majority of people in most countries surveyed have a favourable view of the military alliance.

STAFF WRITER

Across Three Metros, the DA is Judged the Better GNU Partner

The Common Sense, in partnership with the Social Research Foundation, measured voter opinion in three of South Africa’s metros — Johannesburg, Tshwane and eThekwini. In each, respondents were asked whether the ANC and the DA were performing very well, quite well, quite poorly, or very poorly in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Working Mothers Carry the Heaviest Load

New polling from the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan US research organisation that tracks public attitudes and social trends, shows that working parents are struggling to keep family life and working life apart.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

DA Leads In Gauteng, ANC Close Behind

Social Research Foundation polling conducted in the first quarter asked registered voters in Gauteng which party they would support if local government elections were held today. The Gauteng sample is smaller than the national sample, meaning the provincial margin of error is higher and the results should be interpreted as a rough indication of support levels rather than a precise estimate of electoral outcomes.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

VIDES

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Ramaphosa's Empty Victory

THE COMMON SENSE

-

4.8.2026

Revisiting the SARS Rogue Unit

THE COMMON SENSE

-

3.8.2026

South Africa's Underground Fight Against The Zama Zamas

THE COMMON SENSE

-

30.7.2026

This Western Cape Town Is About To Be Destroyed. Why Is the DA Letting This happen?

THE COMMON SENSE

-

29.7.2026

How El Nino Could Trigger Droughts and Food Crises Across Southern Africa.

THE COMMON SENSE

-

21.7.2026

Ramaphosa's Empty Victory

THE COMMON SENSE

-

4.8.2026

Revisiting the SARS Rogue Unit

THE COMMON SENSE

-

3.8.2026

South Africa's Underground Fight Against The Zama Zamas

THE COMMON SENSE

-

30.7.2026

This Western Cape Town Is About To Be Destroyed. Why Is the DA Letting This happen?

THE COMMON SENSE

-

29.7.2026

How El Nino Could Trigger Droughts and Food Crises Across Southern Africa.

THE COMMON SENSE

-

21.7.2026

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

PLITICS

VIEW ALL

Ramaphosa's Empty Victory

The Western Cape High Court told the parliamentary committee on Phala Phala to wait. This gives President Ramaphosa more time. Frans Cronje explains why this is not a real victory.

FRANS CRONJE

Just How Dangerous Is a South African Farm? We Ran the Numbers

NEWS DESK

South Africa's Multilingual Policy Has Produced an English-Speaking State

STAFF WRITER

New Think Tank Pledges to Drive Decolonialisation and Promote “Black Agency”

STAFF WRITER

When Policy Meets Reality: Illegal Firearms and the Failure of Gun Control

STAFF WRITER

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SA's Illicit Economy

Shadow State Rising

This Common Sense Special Report looks at Illicit economic activity in South Africa and the threat it poses to the economic, social, and political stability of the country.

THE COMMON SENSE

-

20.6.2026

How a Parallel Illicit Economy Threatens National Security

STAFF WRITER

Illegal Mining Threatens SA Mining Industry

STAFF WRITER

Shadow Economy Threatens SA’s Security

NEWS DESK

More Than 10 Dead in Illicit Mining Hotspot

STAFF WRITER

How a Parallel Illicit Economy Threatens National Security

STAFF WRITER

Illegal Mining Threatens SA Mining Industry

STAFF WRITER

Shadow Economy Threatens SA’s Security

NEWS DESK

More Than 10 Dead in Illicit Mining Hotspot

STAFF WRITER

GLBAL

VIEW ALL

Young Africans Like Trump Even Though They Do Not Trust Him

Young Africans are unexpectedly optimistic about Donald Trump’s second presidency, even though most believe his administration would break international law to secure the continent’s resources.

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

Does a Chinese Takeover of Taiwan Pose a Real Risk to the West's AI Industry?

RAPHAEL REHBOCK

Is This the Endgame for Israel?

FOREIGN DESK

PDCASTS

VIEW ALL

IDAC Captured, Fauci's Diaries Exposed, and the Secret War Under South Africa

THE COMMON SENSE

-

1.8.2026

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel's Defence Against The Critics

THE COMMON SENSE

-

1.8.2026

The Southern African Trade Problem – Wandile Sihlobo Explains

THE COMMON SENSE

-

28.7.2026

Seven Prime Ministers In 10 Years, How Did The UK Get Here?

THE COMMON SENSE

-

27.7.2026

IDAC Captured, Fauci's Diaries Exposed, and the Secret War Under South Africa

THE COMMON SENSE

-

1.8.2026

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel's Defence Against The Critics

THE COMMON SENSE

-

1.8.2026

The Southern African Trade Problem – Wandile Sihlobo Explains

THE COMMON SENSE

-

28.7.2026

Seven Prime Ministers In 10 Years, How Did The UK Get Here?

THE COMMON SENSE

-

27.7.2026

ECNOMICS

VIEW ALL

Export Expansion is Crucial for the Long-Term Growth of SA Agriculture

Wandile Sihlobo writes on the need for South Africa to diversify its agricultural exports.

WANDILE SIHLOBO