By Bongani Mthembu and Sapa
Rampant crime has been a contributor to a decline in President Thabo Mbeki's popularity.
That's according to two research surveys released on Friday, which showed a marked decline in his popularity standings since the local government elections earlier this year.
The poll, by the Johannesburg-based Research Surveys institute, showed that Mbeki had a 53 percent approval rating, 8 percent down on the figure recorded six months ago.
Another public opinion survey released by Markinor showed Mbeki's popularity dropped from the 7.4 percent he had in May this year to just 6.9 percent last month.
Research Surveys director Neil Higgs said Mbeki's support had also tailed off as a result of the government's failure to fight the rampant crime rate. A temporary boost to his rating, which followed his decision to sack deputy president Jacob Zuma last year, had since faded, with Zuma's supporters constantly sniping at the president.
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The Markinor survey also paints a gloomy picture about the popularity of the Inkatha Freedom Party, Democratic Alliance and African National Congress.
It states that the support for the ANC and IFP fell back to the same levels as at the end of 2005, while the popularity of the DA is on a downward trend.
The IFP's drop from 3.9 percent to 3 percent is bad news for the party as it had prospects of regaining KwaZulu-Natal, which it lost to the ANC in 2004.
The news is also badly timed for the party as it has just announced its plans of becoming a strong opposition party in the province.
While support for the party dropped, the rating for IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi remained at about the same level in the past two years.
ACDP's Kenneth Meshoe also maintained the same level while Patricia de Lille and Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka gained points.
Mbeki's first three years in office from 2000 saw him struggle with approval ratings that hovered around the 30% mark as he tried to shake off the shadow of his popular predecessor, Nelson Mandela.
However, his popularity shot up when South Africa won the right to stage the 2010 World Cup.
A total of 2 000 people were questioned for the survey, which has a 2.5 percent margin of error.
Markinor does bi-annual measurement of the political mood in the country by interviewing 3 500 South Africans.
- This article was originally published on page 2 of Daily News on December 22, 2006
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