Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
30 April 2024 | 11:33 a.m SAST
2-minute read

Image: SA People News

More than thirty percent of South Africans remain undecided about their vote, the latest Ipsos political polling research indicates. This indecision stems not from apathy, but from the inability to find a political party that aligns with their views,

With just under a month before elections, there is a prevailing sense of uncertainty and discontent among the South African electorate.

Mari Harris, the knowledge director for Ipsos public affairs in Sub-Saharan Africa, says she believes that the somewhat “lacklustre” political campaigns have contributed to the current political sentiment.

“It is not really that they haven’t decided. It is that they say there’s no political party that really echoes their own views. So, it is very difficult for them to make a choice… And I do think a lot of the campaigns have been a little bit lacklustre and haven’t convinced them that they have to vote for a certain party,” Harris says.

The African National Congress (ANC) has been on a downward trajectory since the 2021 local government elections. With support for the party currently at 40%, projections indicate that the party may need a coalition party to form a majority government,

The ANC maintains that their internal polls indicate they will receive more than 50% of the vote, but based on the consistency of independent polls, Harris reports that this is unlikely.

“”The other polls and our polls are consistent. If you get huge variety and differences in the different polls, and it varies a lot with time, then you know there is something cooking, but currently it is very, very, very stable.”

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the second and third-largest parties respectively, have not seen significant growth. Instead, smaller parties like uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) are emerging as beneficiaries of the ANC’s decline, particularly in regional strongholds such as KwaZulu Natal (KZN).

Projections suggest the likelihood of coalition governments in key areas such as Gauteng and KZN, although the exact composition remains uncertain.

Harris notes a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction among voters, citing concerns over government service delivery, unemployment, infrastructure, and the cost of living.

Harris highlights that, while sentiment may vary regionally, the overarching mood in the country is one of apprehension and discontent. With only 23% of South Africans believing that the country is headed in the right direction, the upcoming elections are poised to be a critical juncture in South Africa’s democratic trajectory.

“The mood in the country is firstly very uncertain, because nobody knows what’s going to happen. And then secondly, there’s a big feeling in the country that things are not going in the right direction,” Harris remarked.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat here.