The Common Sense’s Diary: The Attacks On Tony Leon Are About Something Bigger
An information operation is afoot, Tony Leon is the proxy and the DA the target, it is all contrived, ideas don’t come from heaven, lemmings, it is all perfectly normal and actually impressive, don’t back down and never surrender, trust yourself – you’re not crazy, it is easy to win these things, the DA leader should be thankful this is happening so early in his term.
7.7.2026 |
The Editorial Board
Fears of Food Price Surge Overblown but Risks Remain
Wandile Sihlobo writes on global concerns about food prices and why these concerns were exaggerated.
7.7.2026 |
Wandile Sihlobo
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.
6.7.2026 |
Frans Cronje and Bheki Mahlobo
Mbeki Inspired Joy – the DA Seemed Burdened
Last week, two speeches were made in South Africa, one by Thabo Mbeki and one by Geordin Hill-Lewis – they landed at different levels.
6.7.2026 |
The Editorial Board
The Americans Have Done a Foolish Thing on South Africa
The Trump administration has made a bad move in South Africa that will undermine its interests in the country and stoke tensions between black and white South Africans.
23.6.2026 |
The Editorial Board
Trouble Brewing in the GNU on Three Fronts
Trouble is brewing in South Africa’s Government of National Unity after Cyril Ramaphosa said he would apply his mind to a request from the DA to reshuffle its Cabinet members, uncorroborated and as yet unsubstantiated allegations were levelled at a DA Cabinet minister, and the ANC-aligned Speaker of Parliament went against legal advice in deciding that Parliament would not intervene to oppose an interdict Mr Ramaphosa has sought to block the Phala Phala enquiry.
22.6.2026 |
The Editorial Board
The DA's Real Opponent Is Not The ANC
The DA’s requested Cabinet reshuffle sets up a very important test about whether that party can do better in national government than the ANC has done. Fail that test and both parties are likely to sink into a deepening relative irrelevance in the minds of voters.
19.6.2026 |
The Editorial Board
South Africa's Illicit Economy Could Push It Back onto the Money Laundering Grey List
While South Africa exited the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025 after implementing sweeping anti-money laundering reforms, it now faces a far more demanding review cycle at a time when concerns over the country's expanding illicit economy and the influence of a persistent "shadow state" continue to mount.
18.6.2026 |
The Editorial Board
Hill-Lewis Has Done the Right Thing
On 9 March, this newspaper wrote in an editorial that John Steenhuisen needed to be fired as Minister of Agriculture – blessedly, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has now asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to do exactly that.
17.6.2026 |
The Editorial Board
Youth Day, South Africa: The Promise Unfulfilled
Tomorrow morning at 10am it will be exactly 50 years to the hour since the police opened fire on schoolchildren in what would become the infamous Soweto uprising. The contemporary government has not done right by the generation that led that protest, or their children, and now their grandchildren.
15.6.2026 |
The Editorial Board
