The Talking Sense Podcast

Talking Sense Podcast Gabriel Makin is joined by James Myburgh, Simon Lincoln Reader, Richard Tren, and Frans Cronje for this week's wide-ranging panel discussion covering South African politics and global affairs. This week the panel covers:South Africa's Deindustrialisation — Manufacturing's share of GDP has fallen from a peak of 25% to just 12% since the 1940s. Frans Cronje explains...

The episode opens on Phala Phala and the unanswered questions around the foreign currency found at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm. James explains the official version involving a Sudanese businessman and the alleged purchase of buffalo, while Frans notes that several versions of the story point toward cash, couriers, and links to the Middle East. The discussion asks why Ramaphosa has gone to suc...

This week the panel starts with Cricket South Africa’s Newlands ticket debacle, where ordinary fans were largely shut out of the England Test while expensive tour packages dominated access. Marius Roodt explains how only about 10 000 of roughly 70 000 tickets for the first four days were reportedly available to ordinary fans, while many supporters were pushed towards costly package deals. The disc...

In this episode the panel begin by revisiting the Shelley Garland affair, where the Deputy Editor of The Common Sense, Marius Roodt, under the pseudonym "Shelley Garland", managed to publish an article in the South African edition of the Huffington Post which called for white men to lose the right to vote for 20 years. The point of the article was to expose the woke madness that had infected media...

In this episode, the panel begin by celebrating the momentous achievement of the parliamentary DA caucus in proposing a well-thought through alternative to South Africaa's existing empowerment legislation. From there the panel explain how there have been a few doctored SRF poll results that have been doing the rounds on social media. Frans points out that if people are taken in by what is very...

In this episode, the panel tries to understand the record-breaking third assassination attempt against President Trump. They examine how the constant raising of the temperature and slander by the media, celebrities and politicians have created an enabling environment for deranged people to feel as though they are doing something heroic. The panel also unpacks how the same dynamic is not playing ou...

In this episode, the panel explains why all the doom-mongering about the current state of the world is entirely unjustified. They explain data showing how much safer, more prosperous, and free the world has become over the past 500 years. For example, Frans explains that whereas a person had to labour for more than 50 hours 500 years ago to light their home for an hour, today the same amount of li...

In this episode, the panel explains the new polling data released by the Institute of Race Relations. They unpack how the findings are in line with the theory that South African public opinion is by and large moderate and sensible. From there the panel turns its attention to the new leader of the DA, Geordin Hill-Lewis. They give a very positive reception to his acceptance speech, but then touch o...

In this episode, the panel explains how traditional western media is presenting a completely misleading reading of how the war in Iran is actually going. Dr Frans Cronje and Richard Tren analyse the latest updates, America's strategic victories, the actual global economic position and what the effect of the war on global markets has actually been. From there Simon Reader turn's to a good n...

In this episode, the panel explains the historical dynamics of the explosion of crime in South Africa's townships. It then gives some context on the mega-deal being negotiated between Paramount and Warner Brothers/Discovery and contrasts that with the failing economic model of the BBC. Gabriel Makin explains what happens at a DA Congress, the next which is being held later this month and where...

In this episode, the panel explains how two agricultural unions and a business lobby group are pressuring the minister of agriculture, through the courts, to allow private vaccine procurement and administration to combat the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemic. It then talks through the political madness of the UK and Western energy policy broadly amidst the Iran war. Dr James Myburgh then provi...

In this episode of Makin Sense, the panel breaks down some of the headline results of the Social Research Foundation/The Common Sense's new national poll and that poll's results in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ethekwini. The discussion on polling rounds out with the panel focusing on Jacob Zuma and whether he has been misunderstood by the main stream press and analysis. After the discussion o...

n this episode of Makin Sense, the panel examines the reports that Patrice Motsepe is not running for ANC leader. They then unpack the diplomatic fight between South Africa and the new United States ambassador. The focus then shifts to an Asian fraud scandal with a South African twist. The panel then studies the facts around venture capital in Africa. After which, they explore the misreporting on...

In this episode of Makin Sense, the panel examines the misrepresented history between the ANC and Iran. The panel explores how the myth of ties between the ANC and Iran overlooks Iran’s repression of leftist movements and the deaths of many communists under the Iranian regime. The panel outlines the fluid situation in Iran today, focusing on US objectives, the shifting global power dynamics with C...

In this episode, the panel discusses the US Head of the Financial Times attack on the Common Sense, the new CBS documentary on farm murders, the South African budget, the supreme court's decision on Trumps tariffs, Geordin Hill-Lewis running for DA leadership, the UK's new cabinet secretary and South Africa's education crisis. Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Panel and Topics02:15 Sim...

In this episode, the panel discusses whether Patrice Mostepe could be eyeing a run for the ANC leadership, Marco Rubio's speech in Munich, the EU and UK's latest economic data, and the situation going into the US midterms. Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Panel and Topics01:52 Patrice Motsepe's Resignation and Political Aspirations04:16 Motsepe's Background and Credibility05:59 Ch...

We unpack the Roedean controversy, the mounting pressure against UK PM Keir Starmer, shifts inside the DA, and unease among Christian ANC members over South Africa’s stance on Iran. We also explore US energy policy, Johannesburg’s ongoing power and water crisis, and what South Africa’s deepening trade ties with China could mean for the country’s economic future.

In this episode, the panel discusses why Namibia is becoming one of the world’s most important countries, what happened to John Steenhuisen, what his departure means for the DA and the GNU and who may succeed him, the outlook for gold and silver prices, why South Africa really expelled Israel’s most senior diplomat, and what the new Federal Reserve governor pick means for the global economy.

In this episode of Makin Sense the panel is joined by the Founder and CEO of InsureAI, Ron Richman, who answers all the questions they have about AI. Chapters00:00 Introduction To The Panel01:50 Understanding AI: Definitions and Evolution09:46 Large Language Models: Capabilities and Applications19:27 The Impact of AI on Jobs and Industries29:29 AI in Financial Advice and Market Analysis39:04 The F...

In this episode of Makin Sense, the panel discusses significant global and South African news, focusing on Trump's intention of taking Greenland, a government report on foot and mouth disease, Iran's influence on South Africa and America's response to that, the history of the NPA and the World Bank's new global growth report. Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Panel01:52...

In this episode of Makin Sense, the panel discusses significant global and South African news, focusing on the Iranian naval exercises in Simon's Town. Benji Shulman provides insights into the implications of South Africa's military collaboration with Iran, particularly in light of the ongoing protests in Iran and the diplomatic tensions it creates. Frans discusses the foot and mouth disea...

In this episode of Makin Sense, the panel discusses significant global and South African news, focusing on the U.S. intervention in Venezuela, the implications for South Africa's political landscape, the threats to the GNU in 2026, and the ongoing issues of free speech and censorship in the U.S. The conversation also touches on the new NPA boss in South Africa and the political turmoil in Iran...

In this episode of Makin Sense, the panel looks back on 2025 and the events and stories that shaped politics, markets, and public mood. The conversation opens in South Africa with a debate over the African National Congress and its evolving approach to the Government of National Unity. Frans argues that the ANC increasingly appears to accept the GNU as South Africa’s governing reality, suggesting...

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 go...

The panel got an in-depth report from James Myburgh on the political history of the Thabo Mbeki and Zuma power struggle at the 2005 National General Council and how Ramaphosa's National General Council was very different to that. He then discusses the fine balance that seems to have been struck within the GNU and its prospects of continuing. Gabriel adds to this discussion by discussing the wi...