On 14 May 2024, Prof Leila Patel, Prof Yolanda Sadie, Mari Harris and Prof Lauren Graham launched the findings from the survey “What factors influence voter choice in South Africa’s national general elections?”.

The research sought to understand what factors are likely to influence their decision making. Five surveys have been done from 2017 to 2023 with a nationally representative sample of 3600 people (3511 for analysis). The survey, conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs, included questions designed by the research team and was conducted face-to-face in a respondent’s preferred language.

You can read the full report and view Prof Patel’s presentation below.

Research Brief: Factors Determining Voter Choice in South Africa's 2024 National General Elections
You can watch the full launch here!

You can also view our videos that captured everything that happened on the day.

  • Prof Patel, founding director of the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) and distinguished professor of Social Development Studies at the CSDA, UJ, provided the presentation of the high-level findings
  • Mari Haris, Knowledge Director at Ipsos Public Affairs in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) provided reflections on the study findings
  • Prof Yolanda Sadie, professor emerita in the Department of Politics and International Relations at UJ, spoke about leadership, party loyalty and views on coalitions and
  • Prof Lauren Graham, Director of the CSDA at UJ spoke more about the youth vote.

Learn more about grants and voting in this short clip.

In the news
Interviews

Prof Patel was interviewed by Steven Grootes on SAFM. Listen as she unpacks the role that Cyril Ramaphosa plays and how grants beneficiaries are shifting their voting choices.

Prof Patel was also interviewed by Bongiwe Zwane on SAFM about the different factors that influence voter choice.

Prof Lauren Graham was interviewed on SAFM to talk more about the report, specifically the youth vote.

Prof Lauren Graham was also interviewed in eNCA to talk more about the youth vote.