South African Public Opinion on BEE
This report investigates the BEE policy preferences of registered South African voters. It does so via three different questions about civil service appointment, public procurement and private business operation. The questions were posed in terms of a 'future coalition' in April of 2024. The Foundation would suggest that these preferences can now be translated into policy preferences for the current coalition government (Government of National Unity) that governs South Africa. The data in the report is drawn from a survey of 1 835 demographically and geographically representative registered voters conducted in April 2024. That survey had a margin of error of 4%.
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government makes raced-based appointment rules stricter, so that only black people can be appointed as government officials.' OR 'A future coalition government gets rid of race-based appointments so that all government officials are appointed only on merit.'
By race
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government makes raced-based appointment rules stricter, so that only black people can be appointed as government officials.' OR 'A future coalition government gets rid of race-based appointments so that all government officials are appointed only on merit.'
By education
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government makes raced-based appointment rules stricter, so that only black people can be appointed as government officials.' OR 'A future coalition government gets rid of race-based appointments so that all government officials are appointed only on merit.'
By party affiliation
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government makes race-based procurement rules stricter, so that only black-owned companies can win government tenders.' OR 'A future coalition government gets rid of race-based procurement policies in the public service so that all tenders are issued only on merit.'
By race
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government makes race-based procurement rules stricter, so that only black-owned companies can win government tenders.' OR 'A future coalition government gets rid of race-based procurement policies in the public service so that all tenders are issued only on merit.'
By education
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government makes race-based procurement rules stricter, so that only black-owned companies can win government tenders.' OR 'A future coalition government gets rid of race-based procurement policies in the public service so that all tenders are issued only on merit.'
By party affiliation
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government restricts what kind of business companies that are not majority black-owned are able to conduct and with whom.' OR 'A future coalition government allows any business to operate freely, regardless of whether it is black or white-owned, so long as it pays tax and helps creates employment.'
By race
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government restricts what kind of business companies that are not majority black-owned are able to conduct and with whom.' OR 'A future coalition government allows any business to operate freely, regardless of whether it is black or white-owned, so long as it pays tax and helps creates employment.'
By education
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government restricts what kind of business companies that are not majority black-owned are able to conduct and with whom.' OR 'A future coalition government allows any business to operate freely, regardless of whether it is black or white-owned, so long as it pays tax and helps creates employment.'
By party affiliation
TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS
The data demonstrates that a significant majority of registered voters across lines of race, education and party affiliation would prefer for appointments in the civil service to be based on merit as opposed to race. Similarly, a majority of registered voters across lines of race, education and party affiliation would prefer for public procurement to be based on the merit of the bid. Finally, a significant majority of registered voters across lines of race, education and party affiliation would prefer for businesses to operate freely regardless of the race of the owners so long as that business pays taxes and creates employment.
