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Johannesburg — President Jacob Zuma’s approval levels in major metropolitan areas have shown a slight improvement, according to a survey released yesterday. Zuma’s approval rating in August 2013 stood at 43 percent, research company TNS South Africa said. “The most recent data collected in August… shows that the trend of increasing disapproval of the president has levelled off, with a slight improvement overall since the beginning of 2013,” it said.
The approval rating in February stood at 41 percent.
TNA said the increase in approval ratings was driven by people older than 35.
Approval ratings by young adults (18-24) decreased from 49 percent in February to 45 percent in August 2013. People aged between 25 and 34 were becoming more undecided about Zuma, with the number of “fence sitters” increasing between 8 percent in February and 12 percent in August.
“Controversial media incidents such as the Gupta wedding scandal and Nkandla public spending do not appear to have caused any increased disapproval of the president at an aggregate level, but remain at low levels,” TNA South Africa said.
“Decreased approval ratings among the youth could be a cause for concern for the ANC going into the elections next year.” The rating also increased across three racial groups — Indian, black and white —with the most “pronounced” increase among Indians from 14 percent in February to 26 percent in August. — Sapa
Online Reporter