VIDES
The ANC Is Down to 18% in Johannesburg (Our New Polls Are Out)
New Social Research Foundation polling, fielded in July 2026, has the ANC down roughly 12 points from the first quarter of this year - a fall well outside margin of error. Frans Cronje and Gabriel Makin go through what the data show and what is driving this trend.
17 hours ago
9 min
The ANC is in "classic decline" and cannot stop it (our new polling reveals).
New Social Research Foundation polling, fielded in July 2026, puts the ANC two points off the lowest figure it has ever recorded, which it hit in the first quarter of last year during the VAT dispute with the DA. Frans Cronje and Gabriel Makin go through the national topline.
1 day ago
9 min
Phala Phala Broke the ANC, and Our New Polls Show the Damage
Frans Cronje gives an overview of new polling conducted by the Social Research Foundation and The Common Sense.
1 day ago
7 min
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.
2 days ago
10 min
Revisiting the SARS Rogue Unit
In this clip from Talking Sense the panel discusses how the current brouhaha around IDAC has echoes of the SARS "rogue unit" scandal.
3 days ago
8 min
South Africa's Underground Fight Against The Zama Zamas
South Africa is preparing a specialist military capability for underground warfare. Special forces and engineers are being trained to operate in mine shafts and tunnels, drawing on precedent from Gaza and from the American tunnel rats of the Vietnam War. The reason is the illicit mining industry.
7 days ago
5 min
This Western Cape Town Is About To Be Destroyed. Why Is the DA Letting This happen?
The Talking Sense panel discusses a proposed synthetic aviation fuel project near Hopefield in the Western Cape. The project would include the synthetic aviation fuel plant north of the town, extensive solar panel fields covering thousands of hectares, and a separate carbon biomass boiler component.
8 days ago
9 min
How El Nino Could Trigger Droughts and Food Crises Across Southern Africa.
Wandile Sihlobo explains what this year's El Nino could mean for South Africa's agriculture sector.
16 days ago
10 min
The China Debt Crisis No One Sees Coming
Is there a looming debt crisis in China?
17 days ago
6 min
SA's Enclave Future - How To Prepare For It
Frans Cronje explains how to prepare for South Africa's enclave future.
17 days ago
11 min
The Truth About Black Economic Progress in South Africa
What are the real numbers about the economic progress of black people in South Africa since the end of apartheid?
20 days ago
4 min
The Rogue GNU Claims Another Scalp in Tshwane.
The suspension of city manager Johann Mettler is a move in the contest between South Africa's two Governments of National Unity, and a demonstration of what the rogue version does when it consolidates power.
21 days ago
21 min
El Salvador Dropped Its Murder Rate by 98%, Since Then, Its Investment Rate Has Tripled
Frans Cronje discusses how El Salvador reduced its violent crime rate.
21 days ago
3 min
Helen Zille: How 10 Bakkies Will Save Johannesburg.
Helen Zille on her plan to fix Johannesburg.
22 days ago
13 min
How One London Building Reveals SA's Global Irrelevance
What the decay of South Africa House in London says about the country.
23 days ago
5 min
Wandile Sihlobo: How SA Agriculture Can Survive FMD and Win Globally
Wandile Sihlobo discusses foot-and-mouth disease, food security, and the future of South African agriculture.
24 days ago
21 min
South Africa's Next 10 Years: Best Case, Worst Case, Base Case.
Frans Cronje breaks down The Common Sense's latest scenarios for South Africa for 2034.
24 days ago
12 min
No Global Food Crisis from Iran-US War? Wandile Sihlobo Breaks It Down
Wandile Sihlobo joins Gabriel Makin for the first episode of Wandile's Wisdom on The Common Sense.
27 days ago
12 min
What Will South Africa Look Like in 2034?
Frans Cronje lays out what South Africa could look like in 2034.
July 6, 2026
8 min
Cheap Energy Brings Prosperity (The Rich Hate Prosperity).
The panel reflects on the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in London and why its strongest message was about energy, prosperity and human flourishing.
July 2, 2026
10 min
The ONE Number Destroying South Africa’s Future.
South Africa’s most important economic number is the fixed investment rate. It is now 14% of GDP. That is lower than when the ANC took power in 1994. Frans Cronje shows how the rate peaked at 22% in 2008 but then collapsed.
July 1, 2026
5 min
Will South Africa Explode On 30 June?
The panel discusses South Africa’s 30 June immigration deadline and the fear that it could trigger a new wave of violence.
June 29, 2026
8 min
Regime Change Is Coming To South Africa (Almost)
Frans Cronje explains how regime change can work in South Africa, using the example of Helen Zille's candidacy for mayor in Johannesburg.
June 25, 2026
4 min
The DA's Biggest Nightmare: South Africa Is Winning Without Them
As South Africans increasingly organise outside the state, Frans Cronje argues the DA faces a new competitor: the enclave economy.
June 22, 2026
9 min
They're Destroying the Western Cape for "Green" Energy, Or Are They?
In this clip from Talking Sense the panel discusses a looming ecological disaster for the Western Cape.
June 22, 2026
10 min
How the US-Iran Deal Could Slash SA Petrol Prices.
Is the Iran War finally ending? What does this mean for global energy prices and South Africa’s petrol price?
June 18, 2026
6 min
South Africa’s Shadow State: How the Illicit Economy is Taking Over
In this Talking Sense clip, Gabriel, James and Frans unpack how South Africa’s illicit economy is adapting, expanding, and challenging the state’s authority in everyday life.
June 17, 2026
11 min
How South Africa Killed Its Manufacturing Sector and Trapped Millions in Poverty
In this clip, Frans Cronje breaks down how South Africa lost its manufacturing base, with terrible consequences for the poor.
June 11, 2026
12 min
Data Centres Are Fantastic, Do Not Believe The Lies
AI data centres are reshaping the economy and sparking debate, with Gabriel Makin and Richard Tren unpacking why fears over energy and water use may be overblown while innovation and investment soar.
June 5, 2026
8 min
Taking Over Jo'burg Could Destroy the DA, Here's Why
Will winning Johannesburg be a poisoned chalice for the DA?
June 2, 2026
5 min
Where Did the Cash in Ramaphosa's Couch Come From?
James Myburgh and Frans Cronje talk about the President's magic money couch.
May 29, 2026
6 min
This Is How The Iran War Ends
Frans Cronje explains what is likely to happen next with the Iran war.
May 27, 2026
14 min
Ramaphosa's Delusional Defense Of BEE
In this clip the panel debates Cyril Ramaphosa’s defence of BEE, the collapse in South African mining output, and whether empowerment policies have helped ordinary South Africans or politically connected elites.
May 27, 2026
10 min
What Should The DA Do About Phala Phala?
Dr James Myburgh and Dr Frans Cronje debate whether the DA should use Phala Phala to force reform from Ramaphosa, or avoid triggering a doomsday coalition with the EFF and MK.
May 24, 2026
12 min
Will South Africa Hold Together?
Frans Cronje argues that even an ANC/EFF/MK coalition may not devastate South Africa’s middle classes, because state failure has already driven them into private enclaves able to insulate themselves from Pretoria.
May 21, 2026
10 min
Ramaphosa, Phala Phala, and the ANC
The panel discusses the Phala Phala scandal and its implications.
May 20, 2026
11 min
Is The End Of The Iran War In Sight?
Frans Cronje and Richard Tren discuss whether the Iran war may be nearing an end, why any deal would require US sanctions relief and firm Iranian guarantees, and how the conflict exposed Tehran’s weakness.
May 14, 2026
9 min
Julius Malema, Xenophobia, And Frantz Fanon
James Myburgh and Frans Cronje unpack Julius Malema’s contradictory view of xenophobic violence, arguing that his racial-nationalist politics may help fuel the very hostility he condemns.
May 13, 2026
9 min
How Will Trump Do In The Midterms?
Richard Tren and Frans Cronje unpack why Republicans may lose the House despite strong economic numbers, and how rising living costs are reshaping American politics.
May 12, 2026
11 min
Is "Kill The Boer" Actually A Struggle Song?
Dr James Myburgh explains the history of the "Kill the boer" chant and its use in the armed struggle against apartheid.
May 8, 2026
10 min
Fake Hate Campaigns And Left-Wing Violence
In this clip Richard Tren, Frans Cronje, and James Myburgh discuss the link between left-wing groups financing right-wing extremists and the rise in violence on the political left in America.
May 6, 2026
12 min
The Third Assassination Attempt On President Trump
In this clip the panel discusses the most recent assassination attempt on President Trump and what drove this third attempt to kill the American president. The panel explains why radical media and social media incitement in the United States may be driving fringe individuals to think that by killing President Trump they might be saving the world.
May 5, 2026
10 min
The DA's GNU Troubles
In this clip, Frans Cronje and James Myburgh assess mounting governance missteps inside the Democratic Alliance, from Siviwe Gwarube’s tender controversy to John Steenhuisen’s court reprimands, before questioning the party’s role in the GNU and how it should better wield power.
May 4, 2026
11 min
The Seismic Shift In The Global Oil Market
In this clip, Frans Cronje traces the rise of OPEC from its 1960 founding through the 1973 oil crisis, before explaining why the United Arab Emirates is pivoting toward the United States and what that means for the balance of global energy power.
May 3, 2026
12 min
Is The World Falling Apart?
Frans Cronje explains why the world is far more prosperous than headlines suggest, pointing to record-low poverty, expanding opportunity, and the collapse in the cost of light as proof of human progress.
April 30, 2026
12 min
The Common Sense's Land Reform Solution
Can a five-year, state-backed 0% loan scheme for black farmers, with incentives for black-white partnerships, unlock financing, and reshape South Africa’s agricultural future?
April 29, 2026
6 min
Should Geordin Hill-Lewis Join The Cabinet?
Dr James Myburgh, Dr Frans Cronje, and Simon Reader debate whether Geordin Hill-Lewis should join Cabinet, weighing national visibility against the risk of ANC control and reduced political effectiveness.
April 29, 2026
12 min
Revolutionary Strategy And The Iran War
In this clip, James Myburgh says people commenting on America's approach to the Iran war fail to understand how sustained US pressure may be accelerating regime change by exploiting internal fractures rather than defeating the regime outright.
April 28, 2026
9 min
Farm Attacks: What Everyone Gets Wrong
In this clip, Dr James Myburgh discusses how the ANC's politicisation of farm attacks, coupled with its historical support for criminal elements, has contributed to the normalisation of violence in South Africa.
April 24, 2026
12 min
South African's Don't Care About Race
Hermann Pretorius breaks down the latest Institute of Race Relations poll, revealing South Africans' preference for race-neutral decisions in government procurement and hiring.
April 23, 2026
13 min
