Little real confidence and some very mixed views on the judiciary

People's views on the impartiality of the judiciary and its transformation are very mixed, with a major finding being that people simply do not know very much about this arm of the state.   The proportion of metro adults agreeing that the judiciary is impartial and unbiased is 31% - but 31% feel the reverse with a very large 38% giving a "don't know response. 

These figures were released today by TNS South Africa, South Africa's leading marketing and social insights company.  They arise from a study of 2 000 adults in South Africa's seven major metropolitan areas in late October/early November 2011. The study has a margin of error of less than 2½% for these overall results. 

When asked whether judges are biased towards the Government, 38% agreed whilst 27% disagreed - but, again, the "don't know" response was high at 36%.

The issue of transformation yields a 42% "don't know" response with 34% of metro adults feeling that there has not been enough transformation in the judiciary and 24% feeling that there has. 

On the issue of impartiality in general, demographic differences by race, gender and wealth are negligible - unusually - but older people are less confident (17% of those aged 60 years and older feel the judiciary is impartial and unbiased).  The same is largely true of government-bias issue.

Even on the issue of transformation in the judiciary, there are remarkably few demographic differences, although, again, it is older people who show the largest difference with 23% feeling that there has not been enough transformation.

The "don't know" responses tend to be slightly higher amongst females and much higher amongst older people (over 50%).  Again, difference between other demographics are small.

However, differences by area are somewhat more marked, and there are differences between attitudes to the issues within area:

The appointment of Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng is then, perhaps unsurprisingly, also sees mixed views despite the fierce debate that raged at the time.  Here, TNS found that 34% of people said that they were happy with the appointment whilst 26% disagreed and 39% gave a "don't know" response.  However, here there are much stronger demographic differences:

Males were also more positive (38%) compared with females (31%) whilst older people were less happy, as were the more wealthy (this links back to the differences by race).   Differences by area are even more marked.

Our take out

The results of this study suggest that, despite considerable media coverage to judicial matters, trials and the appointment of the new Chief Justice, there are high levels of ignorance about key aspects of the judiciary.  Of particular concern is that under a third of metro adults have any real confidence in the judiciary. 

Whilst this may partly be driven by a lack of direct contact with the judicial system, it does suggest that there is much to do to enhance public confidence in the judicial system.

Technical note

The study was conducted amongst 2 000 adults (1260 blacks, 385 whites, 240 coloureds and 115 Indians/Asians) in the seven major metropolitan areas: it has a margin of error of under 2.5% for the results found for the total sample.  The study used probability sampling techniques and is fully representative of the major metropolitan areas.  The studies were conducted by TNS South Africa as part of their ongoing research into current social and political issues and were funded by TNS.

Statement issued by , Neil Higgs, TNS South Africa, February 27 2012

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