South Africans concerned about corruption likely to support an opposition party - study

JOHANNESBURG - The Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) said that good governance, anti-corruption policies, and loyalty to political organisations were among the key factors that attracted voters to parties.

With just two weeks until the seventh democratic election, the centre released its research on factors that influenced voter choice earlier on Tuesday.

The study indicates that most South Africans concerned about corruption are likely to support an opposition party.

Research conducted by the CSDA shows that trust in political leaders and demographic factors like age and race may influence who a voter supports on 29 May.

Job creation, promises made by political organisations and service delivery were also some of the main reasons for party choice.

Researcher, Leila Patel, said that corruption in state institutions remained a significant factor influencing which party South Africans would vote for.

"Those who believe there’s not sufficient action to address corruption by government and that a lot more needs to be done, then they are 61% likely to vote for an opposition party."

She said that voters had a positive perception of anti-corruption initiatives, such as the state capture commission.