June 30, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The vast majority of people in South Africa think corruption is widespread in the country, according to a poll by TNS Research Surveys. 87 per cent of respondents say corruption has become a way of life.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The vast majority of people in South Africa think corruption is widespread in the country, according to a poll by TNS Research Surveys. 87 per cent of respondents say corruption has become a way of life.

In addition, 85 per cent of respondents believe there is corruption in senior levels of government, and 89 per cent want this situation to be addressed.

Thabo Mbeki replaced Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s president after the 1999 general election, where the African National Council (ANC) received 66.4 per cent of the vote. Mbeki led the ANC to a second majority government in April 2004, with 69.68 per cent of all cast ballots and 279 lawmakers in the 400-seat National Assembly.

South Africans will renew their legislature and choose a new president next year. In January, Jacob Zuma—currently the ANC president—was named as the party’s presidential candidate.

Zuma served as the country’s deputy president from 1999 to 2005. In June 2005, Mbeki dismissed him after testimony in the trial of Zuma’s financial adviser Schabir Shaik apparently implicated the deputy president in corrupt activities. Shaik was sentenced to 15 years in jail for fraud and corruption. The charges stemmed from an earlier inquiry into a South African government weapons acquisition agreement.

Zuma is to appear before a High Court on Aug. 14 to face charges related to the arms deal, including racketeering, corruption, money laundering and fraud. If he is convicted, Zuma would be disqualified from serving as South Africa’s president.

On Jun. 27, Helen Zille, leader of the official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), claimed that Zuma and his political allies are plotting to grant him a pardon in case the court finds him guilty next year—at a time when he might already be serving as president. Zille said a verdict against Zuma will not necessarily be a challenge to his potential mandate, declaring, "This probably matters little to a man who has consistently said that the ANC is more important than the constitution."

Polling Data

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
("Agree" listed)

Corruption has become a way of life in South Africa	87%
There is corruption in senior levels of government	85%
Corruption needs to be eliminated in government	89%

Source: TNS Research Surveys
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,000 South African adults in seven major metropolitan areas, conducted in April 2008. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.