A late-2024 poll by the Social Research Foundation (SRF) found that majorities of black voters and African National Congress (ANC) voters reject the government’s pursuit of green energy policies.

Thirty-eight percent of black voters supported South Africa’s unity government pursuing green energy policies, while 52% opposed those policies, supporting instead sensible energy measures that would enable a rapid economic recovery for the country. Among ANC voters, the data similarly split 38% to 58% against.

White voters were also split against the green policies, while a fractional majority of Democratic Alliance (DA) voters supported green energy policies.

The data echoed 2023 polling that reached the same essential conclusions.

South Africa’s unity government has pursued a greening and decarbonisation energy policy that independent analysts say is a central contributor to the country’s weak economic growth rate and high unemployment rate.