October 2023
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Favourability Scores of Prominent Political Figures in Kwazulu-Natal

This report tracks how registered voters in KwaZulu-Natal perceive prominent political figures in the province and the country.

It does so via favourability scores. The scores are calculated by asking survey participants the following question, “on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being a very cold unfavourable feeling, 50 being not particularly warm or cold and 100 being a very warm favourable feeling, how do you feel about candidate X?”. Scores of 89 and higher are recorded as being ‘very favourable’. Scores of 64 and above were recorded as ‘favourable’. Scores of 39 to 63 are recorded as ‘neutral’, scores of 14 to 38 as ‘somewhat unfavourable’, and scores of 13 and below as ‘very unfavourable’. The data is then further broken down via home language, race and political party a­ffiliation.

The data in the report comes from a September 2023 Foundation survey. The survey was conducted telephonically amongst a sample of 2 434 geographically and demographically representative registered voters in KwaZulu-Natal. The survey has a provincial margin of error of 3%. Totals will not add up to 100% as only two categories are included in this report. The individual political figures are listed in this report from the most favoured to the least favoured.

Jacob Zuma Favourability

By home language

Jacob Zuma Favourability

By race

Jacob Zuma Favourability

By party affiliation

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Favourability

By home language

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Favourability

By race

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Favourability

By party affiliation

Misuzulu Zulu kaZwelithini Favourability

By home language

Misuzulu Zulu kaZwelithini Favourability

By race

Misuzulu Zulu kaZwelithini Favourability

By party affiliation

Julius Malema Favourability

By home language

Julius Malema Favourability

By race

Julius Malema Favourability

By party affiliation

Cyril Ramaphosa Favourability

By home language

Cyril Ramaphosa Favourability

By race

Cyril Ramaphosa Favourability

By party affiliation

Velenkosi Hlabisa Favourability

By home language

Velenkosi Hlabisa Favourability

By race

Velenkosi Hlabisa Favourability

By party affiliation

Nomusa Dube-Ncube Favourability

By home language

Nomusa Dube-Ncube Favourability

By race

Nomusa Dube-Ncube Favourability

By party affiliation

John Steenhuisen Favourability

By home language

John Steenhuisen Favourability

By race

John Steenhuisen Favourability

By party affiliation

Herman Mashaba Favourability

By home language

Herman Mashaba Favourability

By race

Herman Mashaba Favourability

By party affiliation

Paul Mashatile Favourability

By home language

Paul Mashatile Favourability

By home language

Paul Mashatile Favourability

By party affiliation

Chris Pappas Favourability

By home language

Chris Pappas Favourability

By race

Chris Pappas Favourability

By party affiliation

Francoise Rodgers Favourability

By home language

Francoise Rodgers Favourability

By race

Francoise Rodgers Favourability

By party affiliation

Tentative Conclusions

The data shows that the most popular political figure in KwaZulu-Natal is Jacob Zuma with an overall favourability score of 63,1%, followed by the late Mangosuthu Buthelezi at 57,7% and Misuzulu Zulu kaZwelithini at 53,5%. Beyond those three figures there is a relatively sharp drop-off in overall scores, with Julius Malema at 33,2%, Cyril Ramaphosa at 31,6%, Velenkosi Hlabisa and Nomusa Dube-Ncube at 22,3%.