The preconception that South African's unanimously believe that political parties need black leaders to be successful is not universally held by South African's themselves. South Africans are split on that question. This insight comes from a survey of 1 204 registered South African voters conducted by the Social Research Foundation in September 2024.

In that survey one of the questions put to participants read as follows: “Whichever party governs South Africa, it must have a black leader to be a success.” Participants could agree or disagree either somewhat or strongly.

Amongst all registered voters 54% agreed somewhat or strongly with the statement and 43% disagreed somewhat or strongly with the statement.

When broken down by race 64% of black voters agreed somewhat or strongly with the statement and 33% disagreed somewhat or strongly with the statement.

Amongst coloured voters 11% agreed somewhat or strongly with the statement and 88% disagreed somewhat or strongly with the statement.

Amongst white voters 27% agreed somewhat or strongly with the statement and 70% disagreed somewhat or strongly with the statement.