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New polling from The Common Sense and the Social Research Foundation shows that close attention to government and current affairs is concentrated among older voters. Among those aged 45 to 64, 46% say they follow what is going on most of the time. Among 25 to 34-year-olds the figure is 11%, and among 35 to 44-year-olds 23%. Those over 65 sit at 41%. The full figures, including those who follow events only some of the time, are set out in the chart below.*

Adding voters who follow events some of the time, 69% of 45 to 64-year-olds report at least moderate interest, against 44% of 25 to 34s and 45% of 35 to 44s. The two older groups are not distinguishable from each other on this measure, and neither are the two younger ones; the break sits at 45. The youngest voters, aged 18 to 24, report 39% combined interest, but that figure rests on 90 respondents and is shown faded in the chart for that reason. With local government elections in November, the group least engaged with government and current affairs is also the group whose turnout is hardest to model.

* The Social Research Foundation’s Q2 2026 Market Survey was conducted in conjunction with The Common Sense and carried out by Victory Research among 2 214 registered voters between 8 and 31 July 2026 using telephonic CATI interviews. National results are based on the full sample of 2 214 respondents. Metro results are based on samples of 504 respondents in Johannesburg, 508 in Tshwane, and 500 in eThekwini. A single frame random digit dialling design was used, drawing from all possible South African mobile numbers to ensure that every number had an equal probability of selection. National SIM card penetration exceeds 250.0%, more than 90.0% of adults own a phone, and mobile networks cover 99.8% of the population, providing universal practical coverage. The samples were fully weighted to match the relevant registered voter populations across all key demographics, including language, age, race, gender, education, income, and urban or rural location. Turnout modelling assigned each respondent a probability of voting based on questions measuring their likelihood of participation, with the primary turnout model set at 56.0%. The national results carry a margin of error of 2.1% at a 95.0% confidence level, while the Johannesburg, Tshwane, and eThekwini results each carry a margin of error of 4.4%. The survey has a design effect of 3.7938.