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New polling* from The Common Sense and the Social Research Foundation shows that more voters would hand the running of public hospitals to the private sector than would let the government take over private hospitals. Voters were asked which of two changes they would prefer: the national government taking over the management of all private hospitals, or the private sector taking over the management of all public hospitals. In October 2026, 50% chose the private sector and 41% chose the government. Population groups see it very differently. Black voters were split: 48% chose the government and 41% the private sector. Among white voters, 89% chose the private sector. Among coloured voters, 69% chose the private sector. The chart below shows how voters, and each population group, answered.

*The figures come from the Social Research Foundation's October 2026 Market Survey, conducted in conjunction with The Common Sense, a national telephone poll of 3 100 registered voters between 18 September and 12 October 2026, with results weighted to the registered voter population. The survey has a design effect of 3.3044.