SA: No to Zuma for president

2006-05-13 22:39

Johannesburg - Sixty-four percent of South Africans were against Jacob Zuma becoming president, a survey commissioned by the Sunday Times has shown.

"This (Zuma's rape trial) has had a negative impact on metropolitan-residing South Africans' perceptions of both the ANC and the government," said a survey analyst.

The survey showed President Thabo Mbeki emerged relatively unscathed from the saga.

According to the Markinor survey, 49% of respondents agreed with the not-guilty verdict in Zuma's rape trial.

Forty percent didn't and 11% were not sure.

Fifty-one percent of those questioned accepted Zuma's apology for his conduct.

Forty-two percent said the trial had affected their perceptions of the ruling party. Of these, 75% said the effect was negative.

Mbeki had handled the rape trial very well or fairly well, said 59% of those surveyed.

The survey was conducted by telephone in 12 metropolitan areas and among an even spread of income groups, reported the Sunday Times.

Researches said the poll was an accurate barometer of urban political sentiments.

- SAPA