JOHANNESBURG - The popular support of the African National Congress currently stands at just below a two-thirds majority. The Congress of the People meanwhile enjoys the support of just under ten percent of the electorate. This is according to an opinion poll conducted by Markinor at the beginning of March this year. The results were reported in Beeld newspaper on Friday.
The poll, conducted on behalf of Media24, surveyed 3,531 registered voters who were planning to vote. According to Markinor the ANC enjoyed the stated support of 64,7% of respondents, the DA 10,8%, COPE 8,9%, the IFP 2,7%, the ID 1,1%, UDM 0.7%, ACDP 0.6%, and UCDP 0,3%. 10% of those polled remained undecided.
Compared to an equivalent poll conducted shortly before the 2004 election (see table below) the ANC's support is down four points, the IFP is down 2 points, and the DA is up one-and-a-half points. In the past two election cycles Markinor has accurately predicted the size of the ANC majority. It has though tended to underestimated the support for the IFP and DA.
|
Table: Markinor pre-election surveys of registered voters % |
|||||
|
Political Party |
Markinor April 1999 % |
2 June election % |
Markinor March 2004 % |
14 April election % |
Markinor March 2009 % |
|
ANC |
65 |
66.35 |
68.6 |
69.69 |
64.7 |
|
DP/DA |
7 |
9.56 |
9.2 |
12.37 |
10.8 |
|
COPE |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8.9 |
|
IFP |
4 |
8.58 |
4.5 |
6.97 |
2.7 |
|
NNP |
6 |
6.87 |
2.1 |
1.65 |
0 |
|
UDM |
3 |
3.42 |
1.5 |
2.28 |
0.7 |
|
ACDP |
1 |
1.43 |
1.3 |
1.6 |
0.6 |
|
ID |
0 |
0 |
0.9 |
1.73 |
1.1 |
|
FF+ |
1 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
0.89 |
0.6 |
|
UCDP |
1 |
0.78 |
0.1 |
0.75 |
0.3 |
|
PAC |
1 |
0.71 |
0.8 |
0.73 |
0 |
|
Non response |
10 |
|
9.1 |
0 |
10 |
Sources: Markinor 1999, 2004, IEC, Beeld
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
