Zuma approval levels drop - survey
2013-03-18 19:23
Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma's approval levels in urban areas have dropped to their lowest point since the last general election, a survey revealed on Monday.
Zuma's approval rating in the middle two weeks of February this year stood at 41%, research company TNS South Africa said.
In February last year the rating stood at 55% and in August at 48%.
The proportion of people who did not approve of the way he was doing his job had risen to 51%.
This was the first time it had exceeded 50%, TNS said.
The survey was conducted among a sample of 2000 adults from the seven major metropolitan areas in the country.
TNS said approval levels differed by population group, with blacks having an approval level of 54%, whites 13%, coloureds 22%, and Indians/Asians 14%.
"These all represent drops averaging nine percentage points since August 2012," the company said.
People whose home language was isiZulu had the highest ratings of 64%, down from 71% in August.
English and Afrikaans speakers averaged 17%, down from 24%, and other language groups averaged 47%, down from 55%.
Those surveyed were also asked if they thought ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa would make a good president.
TNS said a third of respondents said they "don't know".
However 41% believed he would, while 25% did not.
- SAPA
