Shifting Political Landscape in South Africa as ANC's Support Wanes, Survey Indicates

A ground-shifting political landscape has dawned in South Africa as a recent survey predicts that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is likely to witness a dip in its support base in the national election scheduled for next year. On the contrary, the Democratic Alliance (DA), a major opposition party, appears to be gaining traction among the electorate.

The Social Research Foundation, in its survey conducted this month involving 1,412 registered voters, projected the ANC is all set to accrue around 45% of the vote. This marks a significant decline from the 52% approval that the party experienced in a survey held the past March.

The DA, riding on an upswing of popularity, is predicted to bag 31% of the national vote, a remarkable growth compared to its 24% share from the earlier survey.

The ANC has remained the governing party in South Africa since 1994. However, the widespread corruption scandals staining its reputation and a record high incidence of power cuts in the last year have visibly dented its support among the electorate.

Should the ANC, which garnered 57% of the national vote at the 2019 elections, lose its majority for the first time, it would possibly lead to South Africa’s inaugural experience of a national coalition government.

Such a shift might incite concern among investors as the existing fractious coalitions governing some of the largest cities in the nation have been linked to diminished service delivery, particularly concerning water and electricity distribution.

Based on an assumed voter turnout of 66% (akin to the 2019 figure), the poll also forecasted that the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Inkatha Freedom Party would secure 9% and 6% of the national vote respectively. The survey carries a margin error of 5%.