The document summarizes the findings of a survey conducted in South Africa. Some key findings include: 1) A majority of South Africans believe the economy is headed in the wrong direction and that the government is failing to manage the economy. 2) Only 37% believe life has improved since 1994 across various socioeconomic indicators, while 38% believe conditions have deteriorated. 3) A significant proportion of minority racial groups believe the government discriminates against them.

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South Africans unhappy with the
economy, see slow progress since
1994
Findings from Afrobarometer Round 6 surveys in South Africa
20 April 2016, Durban, South Africa

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At a glance
• The economy: South Africans say the economy is headed in the
wrong direction and the government is failing to manage it.
• Socioeconomic changes since 1994: A majority of South Africans
believe there has been no change or there has been a
deterioration on a range of indicators.
• Discrimination: A significant proportion of minority race groups
believe the government discriminates against them.

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What is Afrobarometer?
• A pan-African, non-partisan survey research project that measures
citizen attitudes on democracy and governance, the economy,
civil society, and other topics.
• Started in 12 countries in 1999, expanded to 35 African countries in
Round 5 (2011-2013). 36 countries covered in Round 6 (2014-2015)
• Goal: To give the public a voice in policymaking by providing
high-quality public opinion data to policymakers, policy
advocates, civil society organizations, academics, news media,
donors and investors, and ordinary Africans.
• National Partners in each country conduct the survey. In South
Africa, Afrobarometer Round 6 survey was conducted by the
Institute for Justice and Reconciliation and Plus 94 Research.

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Where Afrobarometer works

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Methodology
• Nationally representative sample of adult citizens
 All respondents are randomly selected.
 Sample is distributed across [regions/states/provinces] and urban/rural
areas in proportion to their share in the national population.
 Every adult citizen has an equal chance of being selected.
• Face-to-face interviews In the language of the respondent’s
choice.
• Standard questionnaire allows comparisons across countries and
over time.
• Sample size in South Africa of 2,400 adult citizens yields a margin
of error of +/-2% at a 95% confidence level.
• Fieldwork for Round 6 in South Africa was conducted between
August and September 2015

6. Enumerator map

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Survey demographics
7
Unweighted Weighted
Gender
Male 50% 50%
Female 50% 50%
Location
Urban 68% 66%
Rural 32% 34%
Province
Eastern Cape 13% 12%
Free State 5% 5%
Gauteng 24% 25%
KwaZulu-Natal 18% 20%
Limpopo 9% 10%
Mpumalanga 7% 8%
North West 6% 7%
Northern Cape 8% 2%
Western Cape 11% 12%
Education
No formal education 3% 3%
Primary 12% 13%
Secondary 59% 59%
Post-secondary 26% 25%

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Survey demographics
8
Unweighted Weighted
Race
Black African 70% 75%
White 11% 9%
Coloured 14% 12%
Indian 6% 3%
Religion
Christian 82% 83%
Muslim 3% 2%
Other 15% 15%

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Results

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Perceptions of the economy

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Key findings
 A majority (54%) of South Africans rate their country’s economic
situation as “fairly bad” or “very bad,” an increase from 47% in
2011.
 Almost two-thirds (64%) of citizens say the country is headed in the
wrong direction, an increase of 18 percentage points from 2011.
This is the third-highest level of disapproval among 11 countries in
southern Africa.
 Lived poverty has decreased: The proportion of citizens deprived
of five basic essentials (food, clean water, medical care, cooking
fuel and cash income) dropped by half (from 16% to 8%) between
2011 and 2015.
 Indian and white South Africans experience less deprivation than
their black and Coloured compatriots.

12. Negative ratings of national and personal economic conditions |
South Africa | 2000-2015
(% reporting “fairly bad” or “very bad”)
68%
56%
28%
57%
47%
54%
46% 32% 43% 41%
36%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2000 2002 2006 2008 2011 2015
Country´s economic condition Personal living conditions

13. Negative rating of economic conditions | South Africa | 2000-2015
(% reporting “fairly bad” or “very bad”)
50%
23%
26% 35%
29%
29%
60%
37%
18%
42%
33%
39%
44% 31%
9%
36%
21%
29%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2000 2002 2006 2008 2011 2015
Own living conditions vs. other South Africans
Country's economic conditions compared to 12 months ago
Country's economic conditions in 12 months' time

14. Direction of the country| South Africa | 2011-2015
Respondents were asked: Some people might think the country is going in the wrong direction. Others may
feel it is going in the right direction. So let me ask you about the overall direction of the county: Would you
say that the country is going in the wrong direction or in the right direction?
46% 46%
8%
64%
31%
5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Going in the wrong direction Going in the right direction Don`t know
2011 2015

15. Direction of the country | Southern Africa | 2014/15
Respondents were asked: Some people might think the country is going in the wrong direction. Others may
feel it is going in the right direction. So let me ask you about the overall direction of the county: Would you
say that the country is going in the wrong direction or in the right direction?
52%
24%
24%
38%
46%
51%
52%
61%
63%
64%
75%
78%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Average
Namibia
Mozambique
Botswana
Swaziland
Mauritius
Lesotho
Zambia
Zimbabwe
South Africa
Madagascar
Malawi

16. Deprivation from basic necessities | South Africa | 2002-2015
37%
40% 42%
30%
28%
36%
40%
31%
33%
41% 43%
39%
29%
27%
34%
44%
38%
26%
48%
50%
53%
56%
53%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
2002 2006 2008 2011 2015
Food Water Medical care Cooking fuel Cash income
Respondents were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone
without: Enough food to eat? Enough clean water for home use? Medicines or medical treatment? Enough
fuel to cook your food? A cash income?
(% who say “just once or twice,” “several times,” “many times,” or “always”)

17. Basic necessities: never going without vs. going without all five|
South Africa | 2002-2015
Respondents were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone
without: Enough food to eat? Enough clean water for home use? Medicines or medical treatment? Enough
fuel to cook your food? A cash income?
(% who say “never”, “just once or twice,” “several times,” “many times,” or “always”)
40%
38%
33%
31%
37%
12%
16% 16% 16%
8%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
2002 2006 2008 2011 2015
Never went without Went without all five necessities at least once

18. Basic necessities: Never going without | by social indicators |
South Africa |2015
37%
35%
39%
25%
43%
40%
36%
35%
54%
34%
21%
13%
13%
21%
24%
30%
36%
36%
43%
45%
55%
28%
47%
79%
81%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Average
Female
Male
Rural
Urban
51+ years
31-50 years
18-30 years
Post-secondary…
Secondary education
Primary education
No formal education
North West
Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
Free State
Mpumalanga
Limpopo
Gauteng
Western Cape
Black/African
Coloured
White
Indian
Figure shows % of respondents who say they “never” went
without any of these five basic necessities)

19. Basic necessities: Never going without | by infrastructure | South Africa |2015
37%
35%
41%
12%
38%
15%
40%
21%
44%
10%
38%
34%
47%
23%
44%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Average
No post office
Post office
No electric grid
Electric grid
No piped-water system
Piped-water system
No sewage system
Sewage system
No cell-phone service
Cell-phone service
No banking facilities
Banking facilities
No tarred/paved road
Tarred/paved road
(Figure shows % of respondents who say they “never” went
without any of these five basic necessities)

20. Government Performance in economic management |
South Africa| 2002-2015
56%
29%
47%
53%
66%
38%
65%
50%
45%
33%
6% 7%
2% 2% 1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
2002 2006 2008 2012 2015
Fairly/very badly Fairly/very well Don`t know
Respondents were asked: How well or badly would you say the current government is handling the following
matters, or haven’t you heard enough to say: Managing the economy?

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Evaluations of Post-1994 South Africa

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Key findings
 South Africans’ ratings of current and past political systems remain
largely unchanged since 2011, but optimism about the political
system in 10 years’ time has declined significantly (from an average
of 8.2 points out of 10 in 2011 to 6.8). As of 2015, white and Indian
citizens give apartheid a higher rating than both the current political
system and their expectations for the future.
 On average, only 37% of citizens believe that life has improved since
1994 on a range of socioeconomic indicators, while 24% believe that
conditions have remained the same and 38% that they have
deteriorated. Among racial groups, Indian citizens are the most
critical of post-1994 developments.
 Despite their dissatisfaction with the rate of change, South Africans
remain committed to their national identity and to nation-building
efforts. More than eight in 10 “agree” or “strongly agree” that
creating a united country is desirable (87%) and possible (83%).

23. Average ratings of political systems | South Africa | 2000-2015
Respondents were asked: We are now going to discuss how you rate different forms of government. I would
like you to give marks out of 10. The best form of governing a country gets 10 out of 10, and the worst form of
governing a country gets no marks at all. What grade would you give to:
1. The way the country was governed under apartheid?
2. Our current system of government with regular elections where everyone can vote and there are at least
two political parties?
3. The political system of this country as you expect it to be in 10 years’ time?
3.4
3.9
2.8 2.9
3.5 3.3 3.4
6.1
5.9
7.1
6.5
6.3
6.0 6.15.9
6.8
7.4 7.6
5.9
8.2
6.8
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2011 2015
Apartheid system Current system of govt Future system (in 10 yrs)

24. Average ratings of political systems | by race | South Africa | 2015
2.9
4.3
5.8
5.4
6.3
5.8
5.1
4.7
7.2
6.4
5.3
4.5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Black/African Coloured White Indian
Apartheid system Current system of govt Future system (in 10 yrs)

25. Changes in socioeconomic conditions since 1994 | South Africa | 2015
Respondents were asked: How would you say the following has changed since the transition in 1994:
1) Your personal safety and that of your family? 2) Economic circumstances for you and your family?
3) Employment opportunities for you and your family? 4) Relations between members of different race
groups? 5) The gap between the rich and poor?
37%
17%
30%
41%
42%
52%
24%
28%
19%
23%
23%
26%
38%
52%
51%
36%
34%
20%
1%
3%
0%
1%
1%
3%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Average
Inequality
Employment
Econ. circumstances
Safety
Race relations
Better/Much better Same Worse/Much worse Don't know

26. Improvement in socioeconomic conditions since 1994 | by social
indicators| South Africa | 2015
(Figure shows average % of “better” or “much better” responses across the questions regarding personal
safety, economic circumstances, employment opportunities, race relations, and inequality between rich and
poor)
37%
37%
35%
37%
36%
40%
35%
33%
33%
33%
35%
42%
39%
33%
29%
16%
36%
30%
38%
26%
41%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
Average
Urban
Rural
Male
Female
18-29 years
30-49 years
50 and older
No formal education
Primary
Secondary
Post-secondary
Black/African
Coloured
White
Indian
No affiliation
Other party
EFF supporter
DA supporter
ANC supporter

27. Attachment to national identity | by race | South Africa | 2015
Respondents were asked: Here are some things people say about the way they feel about South Africa. There
are no right or wrong answers. We are simply interested in your opinions. Please tell me whether you disagree or
agree with these statements.
1. Being South African is a very important part of how you see yourself.
2. You would want your children to think of themselves as South African.
3. People should realise we are South Africans first, and stop thinking of themselves in terms of the group they
belong to.
(% “agree” or “strongly agree”)
91% 87% 88%
99%92% 90% 87%
99%
88%
82% 82%
96%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Black/African White Coloured Indian
Being South African is important part of identity
Want children to think of themselves as South African
South Africans should prioritise national identity

28. National unity | by race | South Africa | 2015
Respondents were asked: Please tell me whether you disagree or agree with these statements.
1. It is desirable to create one united South African nation out of all the different groups who live in this
country.
2. It is possible to create such a united South African nation.
(% “agree” or “strongly agree”)
88%
83% 82%
98%
84%
73%
80%
83%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Black/African White Coloured Indian
Creating a united SA is desirable Creating a united SA is possible

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Discrimination by institutions and
society

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Key findings
 Although consistently low since 2006, the proportion of South Africans
who believe that the government “always” or “often” discriminates
against members of their ethnic community increased by 15
percentage points, on average, among citizens of minority race
groups between 2011 and 2015.
 A majority of citizens believe that employers (56%) and the courts
(54%) “always” or “often” treat people differently based on their
race, while 36% say the same about landlords.
 Perceptions of frequent racial discrimination by employers, the courts,
and landlords are far higher among Indian respondents (73% on
average) than among other race groups. They are also above
average among urban residents, citizens with high levels of
education, and residents of North West, Gauteng, and Western Cape
provinces.

31. Government discrimination | South Africa | 2015
Respondents were asked: How often, if ever, are [members of respondent’s ethnic group] treated
unfairly by the government?
43%
26%
50% 52%
26%
28%
21%
25%
18%
24%
16%
18%
5%
14%
9%
2%8% 9% 2% 2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2006 2008 2011 2015
Never Sometimes Always/Often Not applicable Don't know

32. Government discrimination|by race|South Africa |2006-2015
16%
22%
14%
12%
27%
17%
31%32%
34%
25%
40%
7%
38%
33%
49%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
2006 2008 2011 2015
Black/African White Coloured Indian

33. Perceptions of racial discrimination | South Africa | 2015
Respondents were asked: In your opinion, how often in this country are people treated unequally
because of their race by: Their current or prospective employers? The courts? Potential landlords?
56% 54%
36%
39% 42%
51%
5% 4%
13%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Employers Courts Landlords
Always/Often Never/Rarely Don't know

34. Racial discrimination by employers | by social indicators| South Africa |
2015
56%
59%
50%
57%
55%
55%
57%
54%
54%
49%
57%
59%
57%
51%
51%
73%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Average
Urban
Rural
Male
Female
18-29 years
30-49 years
50 and older
No formal education
Primary
Secondary
Post-secondary
Black/African
Coloured
White
Indian
Respondents were asked: In your opinion, how often in this country are people treated unequally because of
their race by their current or prospective employers? (% “often” or “always”)

35. Racial discrimination in the courts | by social indicators| South Africa |
2015
54%
59%
45%
55%
54%
55%
55%
52%
39%
51%
53%
60%
51%
59%
62%
83%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Average
Urban
Rural
Male
Female
18-29 years
30-49 years
50 and older
No formal education
Primary
Secondary
Post-secondary
Black/African
Coloured
White
Indian
Respondents were asked: In your opinion, how often in this country are people treated
unequally because of their race by the courts? (% “often” or “always”)

36. Racial discrimination by potential landlords | by social indicators| South
Africa | 2015
Respondents were asked: In your opinion, how often in this country are people treated unequally
because of their race by potential landlords? (% “often” or “always”)
36%
40%
29%
37%
35%
36%
36%
35%
31%
30%
36%
40%
34%
32%
43%
63%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Average
Urban
Rural
Male
Female
18-29 years
30-49 years
50 and older
No formal education
Primary
Secondary
Post-secondary
Black/African
Coloured
White
Indian

37. Province Employers Courts Landlords Average
North West 70% 54% 54% 59%
Gauteng 64% 69% 35% 56%
Western Cape 51% 61% 52% 55%
KwaZulu-Natal 57% 59% 40% 52%
Free State 65% 54% 32% 50%
Eastern Cape 48% 51% 41% 47%
Northern Cape 43% 48% 35% 42%
Limpopo 37% 37% 18% 31%
Mpumalanga 56% 16% 4% 25%
(% “often” or “always”)
Racial discrimination by employers, courts and landlords | by province |
South Africa | 2015

38. WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG
Conclusion

39. WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG
 South Africans are increasingly pessimistic about the
national economy, saying it is headed in the wrong
direction and the government has done a poor job of
managing it.
 Optimism about the future has decreased significantly with
white and Indian citizens giving apartheid a higher rating
than both the current political system and their expectations
for the future.
 Perceptions of frequent government discrimination have
increased among minority race groups and a majority of
South Africans believe that employers and courts “always”
or “often” treat people differently based on race, while
more than one-third say the same about landlord

40. WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG
For more information on these
topics, please consult:
• Dispatch No. 82: Post-1994 South Africa better
than apartheid, but few gains in
socioeconomic conditions
• Dispatch No. 83: Despite decline in lived
poverty, South Africans increasingly pessimistic
about the economy
• Dispatch No. 84: South Africans generally
tolerant but report racial discrimination by
employers and courts

41. WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG
Thank you
Siyabonga
Rea leboha
Dankie
Inkomu
Gangans