The document discusses findings from Afrobarometer surveys in South Africa regarding the persistent issues of poverty, inequality, and unemployment from 2000 to 2011. South Africans identified unemployment, crime, and poverty as the top national priorities, with declining approval ratings for government performance in addressing these issues. Despite these challenges, South Africa is viewed as a developmental role model in the region, particularly among countries with strong ties.

1. WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG
Confronting the “Triple Challenge”
Findings on poverty, inequality and unemployment from
Afrobarometer Surveys in South Africa
19 February 2015

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At a glance
• National Priorities: South Africans consistently identified
unemployment (44%), crime/security (12%), and poverty (8%) as
the most important problems facing the country between 2000
and 2011.
• Government Performance: approval ratings have been
consistently low on government measures to alleviate poverty,
inequality and unemployment, and have roughly followed the
national economic trajectory.
• Regional Results: despite national challenges, South Africa is highly
regarded in the region—particularly by countries with strong
historical and economic ties (namely, Lesotho and Namibia).

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What is Afrobarometer?
• An African-led, 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).
• 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. The South
Africa survey has been conducted in 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, and
2011. Round 6 is scheduled to take place in the first half of 2015.

4. Where the IJR team currently works

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National Results|2000-2011
Trends in poverty, inequality & unemployment measures over time

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Key findings
■ Unemployment, crime, and poverty were consistently
cited as the top three national problems that
government should address between 2000 and 2011.
■ In 2011, the majority of respondents were optimistic
about government’s ability to address unemployment
(63%)and poverty (57%) by 2016. Opinion was split on
the government’s ability to address crime/security.
■ Approval ratings of government performance on
alleviating poverty, unemployment and inequality
declined between 2008 and 2011.

7. National Priorities|2000-2011
Respondents were asked: In your opinion, what are the most important problems facing this
country that government should address?
39%
60%
44%
35%
44%
24%
10%
7% 9%
9%
4% 7%
11%
10%
7%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
2000 2002 2006 2008 2011
Unemployment Crime and Security Poverty/Destitution

8. Likelihood of Solving Most Important Problem|2011
Respondents were asked: Taking the problem that you mentioned first, how likely do you think
it is that government will solve this problem within the next five years?
34%
48%
40%
63%
49%
57%
3% 2% 3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Unemployment Crime and Security Poverty/Destitution
Not at all/Not very Somewhat Likely/Very Likely Don't know

9. Government Performance | 2000-2011
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? (Fairly well/Very well)
42%
33%
10%
9%
25%
31%
23%23%
18%
31%
27%
22%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
2000 2002 2006 2008 2011
Improving the living standards of the poor Creating jobs Narrowing income gaps

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Regional Results|2014
Poverty, inequality and unemployment measures in perspective

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Key findings
■ In 2011, higher proportions of South Africans chose
unemployment and crime/security as national priorities than
the regional average.
■ South Africans gave the government lower ratings on
addressing poverty, unemployment and inequality than the
regional average.
■ Despite its challenges, South Africa is highly regarded as a
developmental role model in the region – particularly in
countries with which it has strong economic ties.

12. National Priorities|2011-2013
Respondents were asked: In your opinion, what are the most important problems facing this
country that government should address?
45%
7% 8%
25%
9%
5%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Unemployment Poverty/Destitution Crime and Security
South Africa Average (10 countries)

13. Government Performance | 2011-2013
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? (Fairly well/Very well)
33%
13%
22%
37%
27%
25%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Improving the living standards of the
poor
Creating jobs Narrowing income gaps
South Africa Average (10 countries)

14. National Priorities|2014
Respondents were asked: In your opinion, what are the most important problems facing this
country that government should address?
37
33
2
36
41
16
32
28
11
8
7
11
10
7
5
8
5
4
3
13
3
2
1
4
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Bots Les Mlw Mau Nam Zam Zim Average
Unemployment Poverty/Destitution Crime and Security

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Best Model for Development (%)
|2014
Botswana Lesotho Malawi Mauritius Namibia Zambia Zimbabwe
United
States
29 14 24 23 21 23 25
China 24 18 17 15 22 32 19
United
Kingdom
10 4 10 26 14 8 8
India 1 2 2 12 2 2 1
South
Africa
21 37 30 5 31 17 8
We should
follow our
own
country's
model
1 1 2 8 8 6 8
Respondents were asked:
In your opinion, which of the following countries, if any, would be the best model for the future
development of our country?

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Country with the Most Influence (%)
|2014
Botswana Lesotho Malawi Mauritius Namibia Zambia Zimbabwe
United
States
28 10 32 11 14 18 15
China 25 30 13 27 35 47 54
United
Kingdom
11 2 13 13 7 5 5
India 1 1 1 30 2 3 0
South
Africa
16 35 16 3 30 8 13
Intl. Orgs. 5 2 6 7 7 3 28
Respondents were asked:
Which of the following do you think has the most influence on [Country], or haven’t
you heard enough to say?

17. Regional Perceptions of South Africa|2014
Respondents were asked:
In your opinion, which of the following countries, if any, would be the best model for the future
development of our country?
Which of the following do you think has the most influence on [Country], or haven’t you heard
enough to say?
21%
37%
30%
5%
31%
17%
28%
16%
35%
16%
3%
30%
8%
13%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Bots Les Mlw Mau Nam Zam Zim
Model for Development Most Influential Country

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