Govt floundering on crime, jobs

2003-02-17 19:20

Pretoria - South Africans have little confidence in the government's ability to fight unemployment and crime, a new SABC/Markinor Opinion 2003 poll has revealed.

The government however, received good marks for the provision of basic services.

Only 36% of those approached in October and November last year voiced confidence in the government's efforts to tackle crime. A mere 22% felt it was faring "very" or "fairly well" in the quest to reduce unemployment.

Of 3 500 adults questioned in the survey, 78% rated the government's performance as "very well" or "fairly well" in the area of welfare payments.

A full 71% were satisfied with the government's efforts to deliver basic services such as water and electricity.

Its drive to build houses for the destitute was applauded by 60%, Markinor said in a statement on Monday.

"Government also scored relatively well with its efforts to improve basic health services and tackle the HIV and Aids epidemic in the country - with just over 65% giving its policies and programmes the thumbs up."

At least 66% believed the government was faring very or fairly well in providing education and skills, while 65% approved of its initiatives to promote access to land.

Fifty-five percent believed the government was doing very or fairly well with reducing the income gap between different population groups, Markinor said.

Forty-six percent of South Africans had confidence in the government's handling of the economy.

According to the poll, 74% of respondents felt the government was performing well in promoting equality between men and women, 66% gave it the nod up for uniting the country, and 59% said a good job was being done with affirmative action in the public service.

Almost half were satisfied that the right people were being appointed to head government departments and agencies, while 46% felt the government was doing well in fighting corruption.

- SAPA