President Zuma's national approval level sits at 52%: The Deputy President's figure is much higher at 70%
Johannesburg, 13 December 2012: TNS South Africa, South Africa's leading marketing and social insights company, conducted a self-completion mobile phone study between 6 and 10 December 2012, amongst a national sample of 3100 people aged 18 years and over across metro and non-metro areas of South Africa. The survey represents the opinions primarily of people aged between 18 and 45 years.
The survey found that, overall, 52% of people surveyed approved of the way President Zuma is doing his job. In metro areas, the figure fell slightly to 49% but rose to 58% in non-metro areas. TNS generally tracks the metro figure on a more frequent basis (with a sample of 2 000): the reading in December at 49% is essentially the same as the 48% of August 2012. His overall average for the year is 50%.
Deputy President Motlanthe's approval level is 70% overall: 67% in metro areas and 75% in non-metro areas. The previous metro reading for the Deputy President was 51% - he has maintained a small lead over the President the whole year but this is has now widened considerably.
As always in South African political matters, there are major differences by race. With the ANC policy conference in Mangaung beginning in a few days' time, it is worth noting that, amongst blacks, approval levels are, as usual higher than for other groups (August figures in brackets):
- President Zuma (amongst blacks) - 57%
- Metro areas - 54% (62%)
- Non-metro areas - 61%
- Deputy President Motlanthe (amongst blacks) - 75%
- Metro areas - 74% (65%)
- Non-metro areas - 76%
Hence, in metro areas, the President's approval rating has fallen, whilst that of the Deputy President has risen.
Whilst there are no differences by gender for the figures for the President, the figures for the Deputy President show higher approval levels for males (74% vs 65%). No age differences occur for the Deputy President but the figures do show a rise amongst younger people for the President.
Not surprisingly, President Zuma's ratings are highest in KwaZulu-Natal (64%), whereas Deputy President Motlanthe's figures are highest in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North-West (80%).
Our take out
The President started the year with a 55% approval level in metro areas but this has now stabilized at 49%. The Deputy President, by contrast, started at 49% in metro areas and this has risen considerably in the latest reading to 67%. Non-metro readings for both are higher in non-metro areas.
Statement issued by Neil Higgs, TNS South Africa, December 13 2012
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