EXCLUSIVE: ANC, DA Neck-And-Neck One Year Out of Critical Local Government Poll

Marius Roodt

– November 19, 2025

2 min read

The Common Sense can exclusively reveal brand-new polling data showing that the DA and the ANC are only points apart a year ahead of SA’s definitive local government elections, that South African voters now believe the DA governs better than the ANC, that Patrice Motsepe is the preferred candidate to succeed Cyril Ramaphosa as president, and more than half of ANC voters want Ramaphosa to serve a third term.

EXCLUSIVE: ANC, DA Neck-And-Neck One Year Out of Critical Local Government Poll

Photo by Gallo Images/Lefty Shivambu

Brand new polling from the Social Research Foundation (SRF) released this week shows the African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA) almost tied, confirming that South Africa is now firmly in an era of coalition politics.

The survey of 1 002 registered voters, conducted telephonically with a margin of error of 4% asked respondents how they would vote if a local election were held today. The survey was conducted in early November.

Using a turnout model of 53% the ANC registered the support of 37% of respondents and the DA 32%, with no other party breaking 10%. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) scored 8%, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) 7%, and the Inkatha Freedom Party had the support of 6% of respondents.

The poll also tested South Africans’ perceptions of the policies, leadership, and ethics of the country’s major political parties.

Thirty percent of respondents said the DA had the best policies with only 22% choosing the ANC. Twenty-eight percent said the DA provides good leadership with only 17% saying the same of the ANC.

Seventy three percent linked the ANC with the phrase “broken promises” and 63% said it only cares about itself. The DA drew just 3% and 10% on those same measures.

The poll also tested the public’s perceptions of individual political leaders.

President Cyril Ramaphosa remains the country’s most popular politician, with 38% of respondents viewing him favourably. Other ANC leaders scored far lower. Only 10% viewed ANC deputy leader Paul Mashatile favourably, 18% viewed party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula favourably, and 16% viewed Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the minister of electricity, favourably.

Some 26% of respondents said they viewed DA leader John Steenhuisen favourably. A slightly higher 29% viewed DA federal chairperson, Helen Zille, favourably.

A fairly strong 21% viewed MK leader and former president Jacob Zuma favourably. The EFF leader, Julius Malema was viewed favourably by 20% of respondents. Fourteen percent of respondents said they had a favourable view of Herman Mashaba.

The poll was the first to ask ANC voters about their preferred candidate to succeed Cyril Ramaphosa.

When asked who should lead the ANC once Ramaphosa stands down, 23% of all voters backed businessman Patrice Motsepe, 19% chose Fikile Mbalula, 13% backed Paul Mashatile, 9% preferred Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, and 4% supported suspended police minister, Senzo Mchunu.

Among ANC supporters the top choice was Mbalula at 29%, followed by Motsepe at 15%, and Mashatile at 14%.

The poll also asked respondents whether they wished for Cyril Ramaphosa to serve a third term as ANC leader.

Among all voters 34% supported Ramaphosa serving a third term as ANC leader, while 61% strongly opposed the idea. However, among ANC supporters backing for a Ramaphosa third term rose to 58%, but opposition remains high at 42%.

The Common Sense will exclusively release more of these survey results over the coming week.