Zuma’s not too popular

INLSA

Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and President Jacob Zuma. PICTURE: Sibonelo Ngcobo

MOST of SA’s youth do not want either Jacob Zuma or Tokyo Sexwale as president of the country, according to a survey released yesterday.

“Respondents who correctly identified Sexwale’s profession were asked who they would prefer as president of South Africa, Zuma or Sexwale. Sixty four percent of respondents rejected both choices,” insights company Pondering Panda said in a statement.

The survey was conducted last week among 4 673 South Africans older than the age of 18 and across all demographic groups.

It found that only 57 percent of the respondents knew that Sexwale, who is minister of human settlements, was a politician or a businessman.

“Eighteen percent thought he was a football player, 12 percent a comedian, and 6 percent said he was a judge.”

When the respondents who could identify Zuma and Sexwale were asked who they would want as president, 19 percent of them said Zuma, who is SA’s president.

Seventeen percent opted for Sexwale – who is reported to have presidential ambitions, although he has not confirmed this.

“There is no doubt that the incumbent president has a lot of work to do to ensure that he is more widely accepted by the youth of this country,” said Butch Rice, of Pondering Panda.

“The scores that he is currently achieving are too low and the lack of popularity could well translate into lost votes for the ANC in the next election.”

The ANC will hold its national conference at Mangaung in the Free State in December, when the new president of the ANC will be elected.

Zuma and Sexwale are both rumoured to want the position.

The president of the ANC is usually appointed as president of the country, too.

Rice said Sexwale needed to build his profile if he wanted the top-spot.

“Also, if rumours are true and Sexwale does have designs on the presidency, he has an awful lot of work to do,” said Rice.

“There are too many young South Africans who don’t know who he is, what he does, or what he can offer the country.”

Pondering Panda is a member of the World of Avatar group, which also owns Mxit, Africa’s biggest mobile social network. – Sapa.