HSRC Survey: Only 17% of South Africans Satisfied with Democracy Ahead of Elections

A new Voter Participation Survey by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), commissioned by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), shows most South African voters aged 16 and older across all provinces feel dissatisfied with democracy’s impact on their lives. This matters now as local government elections approach and confidence in democracy hits a historic low.

The HSRC conducted the survey through face-to-face interviews with citizens aged 16 and older in every province. Dr. Ben Roberts, HSRC Research Director, stated that only 17% of voters are satisfied with democracy, while 68% are not.

The table below shows the trend in confidence levels.

This table lets readers see the decline at a glance. All data comes from the HSRC survey.

The survey checks South Africans’ confidence in democracy. A related report from March 24, 2026, notes corruption and unemployment hurt public trust. Confidence dropped most in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.

Dr. Ben Roberts said: “There is a significant positive association with satisfaction with the functioning of democracy and satisfaction with the prevailing general economic situation in the country. Economics is part of the reason why the public has become more and more discontent.”

This quote highlights the link between economics and views on democracy.

Low satisfaction ties to wider issues. The HSRC links it to discontent with the economy. Confidence has fallen steadily since the 2004 peak of 69%.

A recent survey points to corruption and unemployment as trust eroders. Key factors include:

• Economic conditions
• Corruption
• Unemployment

These stand out in the data.

Local government elections are coming soon. The survey’s timing shows the IEC’s focus on voter participation. The HSRC study underscores this need as elections near.