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This report provides a comprehensive overview of the latest polling data from the Social Research Foundation* and The Common Sense, with a specific focus on the November 2026 local government elections. It includes the macro political position, data on the key metros, the favourability rankings of key politicians, who voters want to succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa, public perceptions of the Phala Phala corruption scandal, public sentiment on immigrants, public perceptions of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and whether it is working, support for the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) to continue their cooperation, whether South Africans believe in the merits of an enclave future where ordinary people take over what were once the functions of the state, perceptions on the American refugee programme for Afrikaners, and whether American investments in South Africa should be protected from expropriation and black economic empowerment (BEE) regulations.

Macro Results

The chart below shows all local election results from 2000 to 2021 with polling from the first and second quarters of 2026.

Battleground Metros

The charts below show the election results from 2000 to 2021 for Johannesburg, Tshwane, and eThekwini, together with polling from the first and second quarters of 2026.

Johannesburg

The chart below shows all Johannesburg local election results from 2000 to 2021 with polling from the first and second quarters of 2026.

Tshwane

The chart below shows all Tshwane local election results from 2000 to 2021 with polling from the first and second quarters of 2026.

eThekwini

The chart below shows all eThekwini local election results from 2000 to 2021 with polling from the first and second quarters of 2026.

Favourability

The charts below show the favourability scores of South Africa’s more prominent politicians. Respondents are asked: “On a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being a very cold, unfavourable feeling, 50 being not particularly warm or cold and 100 being a very warm, favourable feeling, how do you feel about X candidate?” Scores above 64 were recorded as favourable and below 38 as unfavourable.

The chart below shows the favourability of senior ANC politicians.

This chart shows the favourability of prominent South African opposition politicians.

ANC Leadership Race

A backstory to the November election will be the pending race for the next ANC leader. The data below show national and ANC voter preferences and how these are strongly aligned now behind one candidate.

Phala Phala

Another major backstory to the election is the Phala Phala corruption scandal facing Ramaphosa. The data below are the first public information on perceptions of that scandal.

The chart below shows the share of voters that think Ramaphosa is guilty of a crime, not guilty of a crime, or unsure but think he has a case to answer.

The chart below shows support for the ANC removing Ramaphosa from office if he is found guilty in the Phala Phala corruption scandal.

The chart below shows support for the DA bringing a motion of no confidence to remove Ramaphosa from office if he is found guilty on the Phala Phala corruption scandal.

The chart below shows opinion on whether South Africa would be better off if Ramaphosa was removed from office.

Immigration

A further backstory to the November election is that of xenophobia and its influence on voting behaviour.

The chart below shows responses to the question: “Foreign immigrants are one of the primary reasons why we don’t have enough jobs in South Africa because they take jobs that belong to South Africans. Do you agree or disagree?”

The chart below shows responses to the question: “If the government fails to remove foreign immigrants, communities are within their rights to identify foreign immigrants and remove them. Do you agree or disagree?”

Views of the GNU

The data below set out how South Africans perceive the performance of the GNU.

The chart below sets whether voters think their lives have improved since the formation of the GNU.

The chart below sets out whether voters believe the GNU is performing well or poorly.

The chart below sets out how voters rate the ANC’s performance in the GNU.

The chart below sets out how voters rate the DA’s performance in the GNU.

The chart below shows whether voters believe that the country will get better or worse if the DA is removed from the GNU and replaced by the Economic Freedom Fighters and uMkhonto weSizwe Party.

DA-ANC Cooperation

The next local government elections (LGEs) will likely see a record number of councils where no party wins a majority and where coalitions will be necessary to govern.

The chart below shows support for an ANC-DA coalition in municipalities where neither party wins a majority in the upcoming LGEs.

Enclaves

The chart below lays out voter perceptions on whether communities and private actors are taking over the roles of the South African state as the state's power recedes.

Afrikaner Refugees

Alongside the domestic issues tested in this survey, questions were put to respondents on their perception of the United States (US) government’s decision to allow Afrikaners to apply for refugee status in that country.

The chart below sets out views on the US government’s refugee policy to Afrikaners.

The chart below lays out whether voters agree with the reasoning behind the US’s Afrikaner refugee programme.

The chart below sets out the perception among South African voters whether they would qualify for refugee status and whether they would take up such status if it were offered to them.

Investment by American Companies in South Africa

Questions were also put to respondents on various aspects of investment into South Africa by US companies.

The chart below sets out the perception of South African voters on whether South Africa should protect American national security interests in order to secure American trade and investment into the country.

The chart below shows the views of voters on whether the South African government should guarantee that American companies will never have their investments expropriated.

The chart below shows the perceptions of voters on whether American companies should be exempted from BEE requirements in order to encourage them to invest in South Africa and create jobs.

* 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.