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In this episode, the panel is joined by Mike Sham, host of the State of the Nation podcast. The panel discusses potentially significant political stories shaping South Africa and the world going into 2026. The conversation starts in South Africa by focusing on the challenges faced by the ANC, and whether it will seek to double down on ideology, as well as the DA's position in the next local government elections and whether a leadership change is appropriate for that party. The conversation also touches on the dynamics within the GNU and whether it will continue to hold strong through 2026.
After South Africa, the conversation heads to America where the panel considers what the mid-terms in November could mean for the Trump legacy. The conversation also focuses heavily on the implications of US politics for international relations. The conversation delves into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the potential for peace in Europe, highlighting the complexities of global politics and the shifting dynamics being played out on the global stage.
The discussion ends in Europe as the panel members discuss whether changing sensibilities towards climate will have an impact on European policymakers, or whether they will continue to blindly pursue net zero at all costs. The panellists also ask whether the countries of Europe will continue to swing to the populist right.
Makin Sense is the flagship podcast of The Common Sense, a new South African media organisation that offers independent analysis on South African and global news stories. Our foundational value is respect for the time our subscribers invest in reading, listening to, and watching our content. We stress the bridge issues that unite people and not the wedge issues that are used to divide and celebrate all the things that are good about South Africa and the world because it is in so many respects a wonderful time to be alive.
Mike Sham is an entrepreneur turned political analyst, he is also the Host of The State of The Nation podcast, a platform for long form interview and opinion on South Africa.
James Myburgh is the Director of the Bremen Centre for Democratic Research (BRE-DE-RE) and editor of politicsweb.co.za . He served as a policy researcher for the Democratic Party in the late 90s. He has a DPhil in Politics from St. Anthony's College Oxford.
Frans Cronje is the Editor of the Common Sense and founder of Frans Cronje private clients. He was the CEO of the South African liberal think-tank the Institute of Race Relations for 8 years.
Gabriel Makin is the CEO of the SRF and Executive producer of The Common Sense. He had previously worked as a barista.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Panel and Themes Ahead
02:23 The ANC's Struggles and Future Prospects
14:56 Local Government Elections: A Turning Point for the ANC
29:39 The DA's Challenges and Leadership Dynamics
50:15 Navigating Political Leadership and Strategy
52:53 The Importance of Collaboration in South African Politics
57:11 The Role of Political Leadership in National Stability
58:50 Shifting Focus: International Relations and the U.S. Impact
01:09:39 Analyzing the U.S. Political Landscape and Upcoming Elections
01:18:07 Prospects for Peace in Europe and the Ukraine Conflict
01:28:00 The Future of European Politics and Elections
In this episode of Talking Sense, Zakhele Mthembu, policy officer at the Free Market Foundation, sits down to chat with The Common Sense's executive producer, Gabriel Makin. They explore Zakhele's personal political development, going over what it is like to be a black South African who is also a libertarian (Zakhele may say Anarcho-Capitalist).
After that the discussion turns towards South Africa more broadly as the pair delve into what the appropriate role for the South African state is. Gabriel tries to offer Zakhele potential roles for the state in South Africa's economic development, but Zakhele is clear - the South African state should not have a direct role in the management of the economy.
The conversation ends by looking at Zakhele's work on what he calls the 'Job-seekers exemption certificate' which is a policy proposal of Zakhele's that seeks to help unemployed workers by giving them the option to opt out of some labour regulations for a limited period in order to find work. The proposal seeks to remove some of the barriers that discourage South African businesses from hiring more workers.
Episode 16 features James Myburgh on the Mbeki–Zuma power struggle, Gabriel Makin on voter support for an ANC–DA coalition, and Frans Cronje on ANC finances, DA leadership tensions, China’s challenge to the dollar, and the new US security strategy. Simon Lincoln Reader reports from London on the sharp decline in British private equity and the lessons drawn from its earlier successes and failures.
In this clip from Makin Sense, The Common Sense's flagship podcast, the panel got an in-depth report from James Myburgh on the political history behind farm attacks in South Africa, the extent of the problem, and the political forces behind the killings. Frans Cronje reports on a new bill soon to come before Parliament that will look to empower the state to arrest Israel supporters in the country, on comments by the US Secretary of State that pitch Poland against South Africa to explain why the one's economy is a rising and the other's not, on why South African chrome smelters are shutting down, and on why Cyril Ramaphosa is set to remain ANC leader whilst John Steenhuisen may be out of job. Richard Tren reports on America's conflict with Venezuela, whether that government will stand, and why Trump has freed a convicted Honduran drug baron even as he blasts Venezuelan drug boats out of the water. Simon Lincoln-Reader reports from London on just how much trouble the UK is in and why investors are packing up for greener pastures.
In this episode of Makin Sense, one of The Common Sense's two flagship podcasts, Gareth van Onselen joins Gabriel Makin for a rare inside view of the machinery of opinion research and why getting it right matters for the health of South Africa’s democracy. Gareth van Onsellen is the CEO of Victory Research, one of South Africa's top polling firms.
For viewers who only know Gabriel as the host of Common Sense podcasts this episode reveals that he also runs the research side of South Africa's Social Research Foundation or the SRF. The SRF is the poll group that called South Africa's 2024 national election result to within a percentage point. Gareth and Gabriel talk about the state of public opinion research in South Africa, how political parties misunderstand data, why polling failure can occur, and what high quality polling fieldwork really looks like. Gareth also unpacks the incentives that shape media narratives, explains why accurate data on voter opinion is rare, and reflects on the future of political analysis in a country where trust in information may be eroding.
Chapters
00:00 Understanding Polling: Myths and Realities
09:48 Polling Methodologies: How They Work
19:46 Interpreting Polling Data: Trends vs. Predictions
29:09 Recent Poll Results: Insights and Implications
30:25 Helen Zille's Impact on the DA
35:18 The Fragmentation of African Nationalism
39:48 Public Sentiment on ANC Policies 44:57 The Role of the Middle Class in South African Politics
In this episode of Makin Sense, the panel examines the proposed Russia Ukraine peace plan, unpacks the ANC’s balance of forces doctrine, analyses the United Kingdom’s new budget, and assesses South Africa’s economic outlook heading into 2026. Richard offers Thanksgiving reflections from the United States and Bheki outlines the key indicators shaping South Africa’s growth prospects.
Makin Sense of key highlights from a November polling survey by the Social Research Foundation (SRF) that tested broad South African opinion on the country’s leaders, political parties, voting behaviour, policy perceptions and the Government of National Unity (GNU). The panel also discusses business engagement in the UK and what role Think tanks can play in financial literacy. The show concludes, by highlighting the challenges the Republican Party is facing in the US.
In this episode of 'Makin' Sense', Gabriel Makin and his panel of experts delve into South Africa's medium-term budget framework, the political dynamics surrounding it, and the broader implications for the country's economy. They also discuss the controversial topics of farm attacks, the role of the BBC in media representation, and the influence of figures like Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson on global narratives. The conversation touches on the importance of fiscal prudence, the challenges of misidentifying threats, and the evolving political landscape in South Africa and beyond.
Rob Hersov speaks exclusively to The Common Sense. In this episode of Talking Sense, South African entrepreneur joins Gabriel Makin to discuss his background, what motivated him to become politically involved in South Africa, what has been the fallout of that decision, whether there is a white genocide in South Africa and much more.
In this episode of Makin' Sense, Frans Cronje answers the question of whether Cyril Ramaphosa will resign, and what that would mean for the ANC. Furthermore, the panel dissects the South African government's latest (good) economic recovery strategy. Reine explains whether Trump will lose on tariffs in the US Supreme Court, and what that would mean for SA's trade negotiators. The panel also sets out the vastly positive global implications of Bill Gates' about-turn on climate change. Lastly, the panel savages global moral duplicity around the Sudanese civil war, and explains how SA's bumbling spooks are only fooling themselves—and that Pretoria needs to up its game in Washington
In this episode of Makin Sense, Gabriel Makin and his panel discuss a range of topics from South Africa's fiscal policies to international political dynamics.
In this episode of Talking Sense, CEO of the Thabo Mbeki foundation, Max Boqwana, comes onto the show to talk about the Foundation's work, the progress South Africa has made since 1994, why the ANC is where it is today.
Makin Sense of the DA's Empowerment Policy, ANC Energy Plan, Oxford Union, Diamonds and US Education
This episode examines South Africa’s widening gap between public opinion and state policy, unpacking polling data that shows deep skepticism of state involvement in the economy. The panel analyses the Gaza peace deal and South Africa’s exclusion, before hearing from David Ansara of the Free Market Foundation, who warns that the GNU merely delays an inevitable collapse and argues for a federal future. The discussion closes with sharp insight into gold’s record highs and what they signal for South Africa and the global economy.
In this episode, the panel discusses the implications of digital IDs in the UK, the challenges facing South Africa's economy, and the ANC's new economic action plan. They explore the shifting voter preferences in South Africa, the state of freedom of speech in the UK compared to the US, and the ANC's financial struggles. The conversation highlights the disconnect between government policies and public sentiment, emphasizing the need for reform and accountability.
Executive producer, Gabriel Makin, sits down with Moeletsi Mbeki to conduct a far-ranging interview about the past, present and future of South Africa.
In this episode, the panel discusses the rise of antisemitism in Europe, R.F.K and food, the potential deal between the US and South Africa, internal conflicts in the DA, South African polling and much more.
Benji Shulman, dropped by to explain Trump's new Gaza peace plan and its implications.
Helen Zille announced that she is the DA's mayoral candidate for Johannesburg over the weekend. Gabriel Makin had the opportunity to sit down with her to discuss how to fix the city, how she will be different from previous DA mayors, what she will and will not be able to achieve and much more.
Dr Frans Cronje, discusses the launch of The Common Sense, the real South African story of the last 30 years and where South Africa is heading.
Makin Sense of South Africa's US trade trip, Charlie Kirk, The Fed and Peter Mandelson
In this episode the panel discuss the UK's Deputy Prime Minister resigning, political party funding in South Africa, the woke right, free speech in the UK and energy in the U.S
Muzi Kuzwayo, comes on to discuss what has happened in South Africa since 1994 and how it could be a success.
The panel discuss crime and policing in Washington D.C, the end of history delusion, the looming economic crisis in the UK and South Africa's debt and deficit
Mmusi Maimane discusses contesting the election as a new party, the GNU, the progressive caucus and his policy plans for the future.
The panel discusses the US Fed, flag protests in the UK, the future of South Africa's ANC and utility crises in Iran.
