Midrand:The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has released findings from its Election Satisfaction Survey (ESS) 2026, indicating that the majority of voters perceived South Africa's recent local government elections as free and fair. The survey reported that 90% of voters had confidence in the electoral procedures being free, and 91% believed they were fair.
According to South African Government News Agency, the survey was conducted on behalf of the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and assessed voter experiences and perceptions during the elections held on November 4. HSRC researcher Dr. Ben Roberts, during a media briefing at the National Results Operations Centre in Midrand, noted that the findings reflected strong public confidence in the electoral processes.
The survey showed that 95% of voters were satisfied with the secrecy of their ballots, consistent with previous elections. Additionally, 83% of voters expressed confidence that their votes would be accurately counted. However, the survey also highlighted a gradual decline in trust in the IEC, with trust levels at 81% in 2026, down from 85% in 2024 and 93% in 2019.
Provincial variations in trust were noted, with the Eastern Cape recording 87% trust in the IEC, while KwaZulu-Natal had the lowest at 72%. Voters cited professionalism, competence, and political neutrality as reasons for their confidence in the IEC. Conversely, the 5% of voters who expressed distrust pointed to perceived corruption, dishonesty, and doubts about vote counting.
Dr. Roberts also mentioned that concerns about information in the news and social media contributed to distrust among some voters. Despite the positive assessments, the HSRC emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust in the electoral process amid broader dissatisfaction with democracy and political institutions.