When South Africa Tells Elon Musk to “Move On”, It Tells You Everything About Its Decline

There is something surreal in watching the South African government mock Elon Musk and tell him to “move on”, because by any reasonable measure he is the most successful individual in modern economic history, and South Africa needs him (and Starlink) if it wants to be successful too.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

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15.4.2026

IMF Expects Global Growth to Remain Resilient Despite Iran War

BHEKI MAHLOBO -

15.4.2026

Roelf Meyer New SA Envoy to Washington

NEWS DESK -

15.4.2026

What’s Really Waiting to be Mined on the Moon

WARWICK GREY -

15.4.2026

“It Wasn’t Me” Says Gwarube Over History Curriculum Fracas

WARWICK GREY -

15.4.2026

Hill-Lewis Says Iran War Justification “Dubious”, Trump "Reprehensible"

STAFF WRITER

- 15.4.2026

Mashaba Unpopular in Nation’s Capital

POLITICS DESK

- 15.4.2026

The Race For Johannesburg - The Common Sense Plus

GABRIEL MAKIN

- 15.4.2026

Platinum Rally Drives Mining Output Higher in February

ECON DESK

- 14.4.2026

DisUnited For Change

POLITICS DESK

- 14.4.2026

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Can the DA Beat the ANC and Win the 2029 Election?

The Democratic Alliance’s new leader says victory is within reach, but only one of the two steps necessary for that to occur has been completed.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

The Common Sense’s Diary

The DA’s new leadership, being ruthless, what very rich whites don’t know, and the price of milk.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

DA Minister Drops the Ball on Education

FRANS CRONJE

The Case for South Africa and the ANC’s Return to 50%-Plus

RW JOHNSON

The Reparations for Slavery Debate

SIMON LINCOLN READER

The Meaning of Natie Kirsh as an Antidote to the Chaos of Current Politics

SHRTS

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PLLING

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Jo'burgers Think DA Will Improve Services

Most people in Johannesburg have faith in the DA to improve services but does that mean they will win the city?

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Like Possible DA-ANC Municipal Coalitions

A potential government of local unity between the ANC and DA is popular among South Africans.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Race For Johannesburg Led By DA

DA leads Jo'burg mayoral race.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

ANC Faces Wipeout in eThekwini

The party could win less than 10% of the vote in eThekwini, according to latest polling.

MARIUS ROODT

Is South Africa Heading in the Right Direction

Most South Africans Say Country is on the Wrong Track

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Most Pressing Issues for South Africans

A brief overview of the key issues currently affecting South Africa.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Frustration with Ramaphosa's Leadership: Can ANC Strengthen by Replacing Him?

Frustration with Ramaphosa's indecisiveness could strengthen ANC support if the party replaces him with a more decisive, reform-focused leader.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Motsepe Leads ANC Leadership Race on Favourability

New 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

ANC Leads DA by 11 Points in Latest Poll

Both the ANC and DA poll at close to their May 2024 vote shares.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Jo'burgers Think DA Will Improve Services

Most people in Johannesburg have faith in the DA to improve services but does that mean they will win the city?

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Like Possible DA-ANC Municipal Coalitions

A potential government of local unity between the ANC and DA is popular among South Africans.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Race For Johannesburg Led By DA

DA leads Jo'burg mayoral race.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

ANC Faces Wipeout in eThekwini

The party could win less than 10% of the vote in eThekwini, according to latest polling.

MARIUS ROODT

Is South Africa Heading in the Right Direction

Most South Africans Say Country is on the Wrong Track

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Most Pressing Issues for South Africans

A brief overview of the key issues currently affecting South Africa.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Frustration with Ramaphosa's Leadership: Can ANC Strengthen by Replacing Him?

Frustration with Ramaphosa's indecisiveness could strengthen ANC support if the party replaces him with a more decisive, reform-focused leader.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Motsepe Leads ANC Leadership Race on Favourability

New 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

ANC Leads DA by 11 Points in Latest Poll

Both the ANC and DA poll at close to their May 2024 vote shares.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Jo'burgers Think DA Will Improve Services

Most people in Johannesburg have faith in the DA to improve services but does that mean they will win the city?

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Like Possible DA-ANC Municipal Coalitions

A potential government of local unity between the ANC and DA is popular among South Africans.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Race For Johannesburg Led By DA

DA leads Jo'burg mayoral race.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

ANC Faces Wipeout in eThekwini

The party could win less than 10% of the vote in eThekwini, according to latest polling.

MARIUS ROODT

Is South Africa Heading in the Right Direction

Most South Africans Say Country is on the Wrong Track

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Most Pressing Issues for South Africans

A brief overview of the key issues currently affecting South Africa.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Frustration with Ramaphosa's Leadership: Can ANC Strengthen by Replacing Him?

Frustration with Ramaphosa's indecisiveness could strengthen ANC support if the party replaces him with a more decisive, reform-focused leader.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Motsepe Leads ANC Leadership Race on Favourability

New 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

ANC Leads DA by 11 Points in Latest Poll

Both the ANC and DA poll at close to their May 2024 vote shares.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Jo'burgers Think DA Will Improve Services

Most people in Johannesburg have faith in the DA to improve services but does that mean they will win the city?

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

South Africans Like Possible DA-ANC Municipal Coalitions

A potential government of local unity between the ANC and DA is popular among South Africans.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Race For Johannesburg Led By DA

DA leads Jo'burg mayoral race.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

ANC Faces Wipeout in eThekwini

The party could win less than 10% of the vote in eThekwini, according to latest polling.

MARIUS ROODT

Is South Africa Heading in the Right Direction

Most South Africans Say Country is on the Wrong Track

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Most Pressing Issues for South Africans

A brief overview of the key issues currently affecting South Africa.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Frustration with Ramaphosa's Leadership: Can ANC Strengthen by Replacing Him?

Frustration with Ramaphosa's indecisiveness could strengthen ANC support if the party replaces him with a more decisive, reform-focused leader.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

Motsepe Leads ANC Leadership Race on Favourability

New 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

ANC Leads DA by 11 Points in Latest Poll

Both the ANC and DA poll at close to their May 2024 vote shares.

POLLING CORRESPONDENT

VIDES

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The Race For Johannesburg - The Common Sense Plus

THE COMMON SENSE

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15.4.2026

The New Space Race

THE COMMON SENSE

-

14.4.2026

The ANC's 30 Year Patronage Machine

THE COMMON SENSE

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12.4.2026

Is The Iran War A Disaster?

THE COMMON SENSE

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11.4.2026

Does The DA Need A Shakeup?

THE COMMON SENSE

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9.4.2026

The Race For Johannesburg - The Common Sense Plus

THE COMMON SENSE

-

15.4.2026

The New Space Race

THE COMMON SENSE

-

14.4.2026

The ANC's 30 Year Patronage Machine

THE COMMON SENSE

-

12.4.2026

Is The Iran War A Disaster?

THE COMMON SENSE

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11.4.2026

Does The DA Need A Shakeup?

THE COMMON SENSE

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9.4.2026

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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10.4.2026

Iran Blinks First - Agrees to Open Hormuz

FOREIGN DESK

How the US Pulled a Downed Airman Out of Iran

NEWS DESK

Why Iran War is Not At This Stage The Global Catastrophe It Is Being Made Out To Be

FOREIGN DESK

The Strait of Hormuz is Not Open Until Insurers Say It is

WARWICK GREY

Iran Blinks First - Agrees to Open Hormuz

FOREIGN DESK

How the US Pulled a Downed Airman Out of Iran

NEWS DESK

Why Iran War is Not At This Stage The Global Catastrophe It Is Being Made Out To Be

FOREIGN DESK

The Strait of Hormuz is Not Open Until Insurers Say It is

WARWICK GREY

PLITICS

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Roelf Meyer New SA Envoy to Washington

President Ramaphosa appoints former constitutional negotiator (and fishing buddy) to the Washington ambassadorship – in good move for US-SA relations.

NEWS DESK

“It Wasn’t Me” Says Gwarube Over History Curriculum Fracas

WARWICK GREY

Hill-Lewis Says Iran War Justification “Dubious”, Trump "Reprehensible"

STAFF WRITER

Mashaba Unpopular in Nation’s Capital

POLITICS DESK

DisUnited For Change

POLITICS DESK

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GLBAL

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Roelf Meyer New SA Envoy to Washington

President Ramaphosa appoints former constitutional negotiator (and fishing buddy) to the Washington ambassadorship – in good move for US-SA relations.

NEWS DESK