Archive - Rational Standard

The Furthest Liberals Should Go On Gambling Regulation

To be ideologically clear, ideally, online gambling would not be regulated at all. But reality demands even those with a coherent grasp of ideology to…

10 hrs ago • Ayanda S Zulu

South Africans Want To Align With The West

Despite preaching support for human rights and an opposition to genocide and imperialism, the ANC only cares about personal enrichment and historical…

Feb 16 • Nicholas Woode-Smith

The Thin Green Line: Why Military Intervention in Cape Town is a Liberal Red Flag

To put it bluntly, using the military to manage civilian criminality is like using a sledgehammer for dental surgery. It is the wrong instrument for a…

Feb 15

SONA 2026: Recycled promises, more centralisation

Join David Ansara, Martin van Staden and Ayanda Zulu as they dive into some of the most pressing issues of the week.

Feb 13 • Rational Standard Editor

How to Lose Allies and Block Assistance

For all of its moral posturing, the ANC has lost all right to lecture anyone else about their conduct, but as this once great organisation itself…

Feb 13 • Ilan Preskovsky

Financial Literacy Should Be Taught In Schools

A society that teaches trigonometry, but not compound interest is not educating its citizens. It is preparing them to fail quietly.

Feb 12 • Nicholas Woode-Smith

Drowning in Red Tape: How Compliance is Crushing South Africa’s Small Businesses

South Africa’s small businesses are being suffocated by a growing compliance maze that extracts money, time, and energy while delivering little value.

Feb 11 • RS Guest Author

Dr Moya Set On Winning In Tshwane – But At What Cost?

But how does Moya intend to win, and what issues are at the centre of her campaign? More importantly, what cost is this campaign running at?

Feb 10 • Ayanda S Zulu

Celebrating Failure: Why South Africa’s Matric Results Are a Lie

Debating the 30% pass issue is really like debating how to repaint the walls of a house that is clearly falling apart.

Feb 9 • RS Guest Author

Your Taxes Are Paying for an Embassy While You Wait for Water

The ANC has turned foreign policy into a vanity project funded by people who cannot afford vanity.

Feb 7 • RS Guest Author

Who will lead the Democratic Alliance? And are all elites on the Epstein list?

Join Nicholas Woode-Smith, Zakhele Mthembu and Ayanda Zulu as they dive into some of the most pressing issues of the week.

Feb 6 • Rational Standard Editor

President Kagame’s AU Chairmanship: A Missed Opportunity for a United Africa

True progress for Africa requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond high-level rhetoric and addresses the systemic issues that perpetuate…

Feb 6 • Dr Peter Wandwasi

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