South Africa

Only a quarter of South Africans over the age of 18 trust their current Local Governments, while more than half (55%) of South Africans who are registered to vote on 4 November 2026 are distrustful of their Local Governments.

ANC support is at an all-time low, yet the party is still likely to emerge as South Africa’s largest party.

Two months before South Africans head to the polls to elect new local governments, Ipsos research suggests that electoral outcomes remain far from settled, with significant numbers of registered voters still available to be persuaded.

Nearly one in seven South Africans say they have missed work, school, college or university because they could not afford transport, with younger adults, lower-income households and residents in Free State among those most affected.

New Ipsos data reveals the scale of South Africa’s reliance on social grants, with the Child Support Grant (CSG) dominating, the once-temporary Covid-era Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant becoming a lifeline for (especially) young South Africans, and a relatively small employment base supporting an expanding grant system.

Ipsos study reveals voter alienation, low municipal trust, and a mixed appetite for polls as 2026/7 elections approach – regardless of a choice of more than 500 parties

While South Africa ranks among the world's most romantically content nations, a new Ipsos Love Life Satisfaction study reveals a troubling trend: Generation Z is the unhappiest generation in the country – with young women bearing the heaviest burden.

As Valentine's Day approaches, a new Ipsos Love Life Satisfaction study reveals that South Africans continue to thrive in matters of the heart, with feeling loved and appreciated ranking as the nation's number one source of happiness – even as financial stress weighs heavily on the Rainbow Nation.

Seasoned market research executive with over 21 years experience to lead Ipsos in South Africa from 1 February 2026