When he replaced Thabo Mbeki as president of the country in 2009, 80% of South Africans had confidence in him. This figure has since dropped to -46 on Future Fact’s scorecard.<\/p>\n
The research firm scores are calculated in the following way:<\/p>\n
- \n
- 5 points are given to people who show ‘complete confidence’ in the president.<\/li>\n
- 3 points are given to people who show ‘some confidence’ in the president.<\/li>\n
- -5 points are given to people who show ‘no confidence’ in the president.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The scores are then multiplied by the number of respondents and added\/subtracted accordingly.<\/p>\n
According to Future Fact, confidence in Zuma had already begun to dwindle in 2012 – his score declined to 153 – and went rapidly downwards thereafter even among black, working and middle class South Africans.<\/p>\n
Confidence has also dropped among ANC supporters, the researchers said. “Strong supporters have remained more faithful but clearly Zuma is a major deterrent if the ANC wishes to retain wavering supporters or keep potential new supporters.”<\/p>\n
As confidence in the president has waned there has been a corresponding increase in people agreeing strongly that the president should be chosen by the people and not by the party, from 47% in 2012 to 78% in 2015.<\/p>\n
In 2015, 89% of respondents agreed that ‘the president has too much power’ with 68% feeling that political leadership is getting worse.<\/p>\n
![\"Confidence_Zuma\"](\"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Confidence_Zuma-e1458743197823.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe research found that 54% of ‘wavering’ ANC supporters would feel disloyal if they didn\u2019t vote for the ruling party, however, 43% would not feel disloyal if they did not vote for the ANC.<\/p>\n
Moreover, half of ‘wavering’ ANC respondents said they do not believe that black South Africans who vote for the DA are traitors – considerably more than a few years ago.<\/p>\n
“This essentially means there is more tolerance for individual voting choices and less of a blind loyalty to the ANC,” Future Fact said.<\/p>\n
Perhaps surprisingly, as many as 15% of ‘strong’ ANC supporters indicate a potential\u00a0 move to the EFF, and a further 12% to the DA.<\/p>\n
This is even higher among the ‘wavering’ ANC supporters with 19% showing the potential to move to the EFF and a further 18% to the DA.<\/p>\n
A reverse swing to the ANC from either the DA or the EFF is at far lower levels, even among their ‘wavering’ supporters, the researchers said.<\/p>\n
![\"Confidence_Zuma_ANC\"](\"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Confidence_Zuma_ANC-e1458743212272.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nLooking at party support bases, in 2009 ‘strong’ ANC supporters were firmly entrenched within the party (83%) with only 17% showing some potential to swing to another party.<\/p>\n
The former has dropped to 67% in the latest survey and the potential swing has increased to 32%.<\/p>\n
“The existence of the EFF has contributed to this to some extent, with Nkandla and other Zuma issues having an impact,” the research note said.<\/p>\n
The ANC\u2019s ‘struggle credentials’ have given the party a very loyal support base, said Future Fact. “But these results show that the breakdown in confidence in a tarnished president could well be rubbing-off on the party,” it said.<\/p>\n
More on politics in SA<\/h3>\n
DA is losing support under Maimane: poll<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Zuma approval rating at worst-ever levels<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
ANC could lose \u2018several important cities\u2019 in 2016<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n