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%.