This is according to polling by The Common Sense, in partnership with the Social Research Foundation (SRF), conducted in February and March 2026. The polling was conducted among likely voters.

Respondents were read two statements in turn and asked whether they agreed or disagreed with each. The first statement is: "The GNU [Government of National Unity] should align South Africa's foreign policy with the West, and against countries like Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia." The second reversed it: "The GNU should align South Africa's foreign policy with countries like Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia, and against the West."

On aligning with the West, 38% of likely voters agreed and 50% disagreed, with the remaining 12% unsure or declining to answer.

On aligning with Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia, likely voters split exactly in half — 43% agreed and 43% disagreed — with 14% unsure or declining to answer.

What stands out from the data is that South Africans are now marginally more like to align against the West than with it.

Figures are drawn from the Q1 2026 Market Survey produced by The Common Sense in partnership with the Social Research Foundation, conducted by Victory Research among 2 222 registered voters between 20 February and 6 March 2026, using telephonic CATI interviews with a single-frame random digit-dialling design. The sample was weighted to match the national registered-voter population across language, age, race, gender, education, income, and geography. The survey carries a margin of error of ±4.0% at a 95% confidence level, with a design effect of 3.27. Figures in this piece are among likely voters.