In 2024, the Afrobarometer team, led by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), conducted interviews with a total of 1,804 adult South Africans to gather their opinions on support for and satisfaction with democracy in the country. The interviews took place between April and May, just before the election. The results showed that 45% of respondents preferred democracy over any other form of government, while only 36% expressed that they were fairly or very satisfied with democracy in South Africa.

After the election, the same respondents were re-interviewed about these issues. This time, the proportion of South Africans who stated that democracy is preferable to any other form of government increased from 45% (pre-election) to 55% (post-election). Additionally, the share of citizens who expressed satisfaction with the functioning of democracy in South Africa rose from 36% to 59%. Furthermore, the results revealed that 39% of respondents reported being “fairly” or “very” satisfied with their country's democracy.

South Africa's national and provincial elections, held on May 29, 2024, marked a significant turning point in the country’s democracy. For the first time since the end of apartheid, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) lost its parliamentary majority and had to form a coalition government known as the Government of National Unity (GNU), with Cyril Ramaphosa being re-elected as President of South Africa. The Government of National Unity is composed of ten political parties that have come together to work towards common goals. These parties include the African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), GOOD Party, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), Freedom Front Plus (FF+), United Democratic Movement (UDM), Rise Mzansi, and Al Jama-ah. Despite many citizens expressing dissatisfaction with government service delivery, Afrobarometer’s post-election survey revealed that many are optimistic about the new coalition government’s ability to improve key issues such as electricity provision, job creation, and the fight against corruption.

Afrobarometer played a significant role in the 2024 South African election by providing valuable insights into citizens' attitudes and perceptions regarding democracy, governance, and economic conditions. Through pre- and post-election surveys, Afrobarometer was able to track changes in public opinion, highlighting South Africans' views on government performance, the country's direction, and the prospects of the new coalition government. By offering these insights, Afrobarometer helped stakeholders understand the sentiments of the South African electorate, contributing to a more informed public discourse and potentially influencing policy decisions.

About Afrobarometer

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that conducts public opinion surveys on democracy, governance, and economic issues across African countries. Its primary goals include monitoring trends in public opinion and attitudes over time and providing evidence-based insights to inform policy decisions and reforms. Afrobarometer also promotes public debate and engagement on key issues affecting African societies while holding governments accountable for their actions and policies. By offering valuable insights into the views and experiences of African citizens, Afrobarometer contributes to a deeper understanding of the continent's challenges and opportunities.