Mbeki 'doing as well as Mandela'
South African President Thabo Mbeki is just as popular as his predecessor Nelson Mandela, a survey suggests.
But another survey indicates ex-Deputy President Jacob Zuma - not regarded as Mr Mbeki's preferred successor - is seen as the most likely next president.
Since Mr Zuma's acquittal of rape last month, there has been keen interest in his and Mr Mbeki's political fortunes.
The rape trial and a pending corruption charge, which Mr Zuma denies, have divided the country and the ruling ANC.
The survey by research group Afrobarometer suggested 77% of South Africans approved of Mr Mbeki's performance as president - statistically indistinguishable from Mr Mandela's best rating of 79% in 1998.
South Africans' predictions
Who will be the next president?
43% Don't know
21% Jacob Zuma
16% Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
5% Third term for Mbeki
4% Cyril Ramaphosa
Source: Research Survey
Mr Mbeki is due to stand down in 2009 after serving two terms as president, with no clear consensus yet to emerge over who is likely to succeed him.
"This is the highest level of job approval for Mbeki yet recorded by the Afrobarometer, and constitutes a 26 point increase since the 2000 survey, in which 51% approved of him," the survey said.
Betting on Zuma
Mr Mbeki's rating was lowest (63%) in KwaZulu-Natal province, which is Mr Zuma's stronghold and also contains the main support base of the opposition Inkatha Freedom Party.
But despite recent criticism of Mr Mbeki by trade union leaders, union members were more likely (83%) than non-members (76%) to endorse the president, according to the survey.
At the same time, a telephonic poll by the Research Survey group suggested that South Africans still see Mr Zuma as the person most likely to be the next president.
While 43% of poll respondents had no idea who the next president might be, 21% said Mr Zuma was the most likely presidential successor.
Current Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka - appointed by Mr Mbeki after he sacked Mr Zuma in June - was seen as the next most likely successor, named by 16% of the people polled.
But another survey indicates ex-Deputy President Jacob Zuma - not regarded as Mr Mbeki's preferred successor - is seen as the most likely next president.
Since Mr Zuma's acquittal of rape last month, there has been keen interest in his and Mr Mbeki's political fortunes.
The rape trial and a pending corruption charge, which Mr Zuma denies, have divided the country and the ruling ANC.
The survey by research group Afrobarometer suggested 77% of South Africans approved of Mr Mbeki's performance as president - statistically indistinguishable from Mr Mandela's best rating of 79% in 1998.
South Africans' predictions
Who will be the next president?
43% Don't know
21% Jacob Zuma
16% Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
5% Third term for Mbeki
4% Cyril Ramaphosa
Source: Research Survey
Mr Mbeki is due to stand down in 2009 after serving two terms as president, with no clear consensus yet to emerge over who is likely to succeed him.
"This is the highest level of job approval for Mbeki yet recorded by the Afrobarometer, and constitutes a 26 point increase since the 2000 survey, in which 51% approved of him," the survey said.
Betting on Zuma
Mr Mbeki's rating was lowest (63%) in KwaZulu-Natal province, which is Mr Zuma's stronghold and also contains the main support base of the opposition Inkatha Freedom Party.
But despite recent criticism of Mr Mbeki by trade union leaders, union members were more likely (83%) than non-members (76%) to endorse the president, according to the survey.
At the same time, a telephonic poll by the Research Survey group suggested that South Africans still see Mr Zuma as the person most likely to be the next president.
While 43% of poll respondents had no idea who the next president might be, 21% said Mr Zuma was the most likely presidential successor.
Current Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka - appointed by Mr Mbeki after he sacked Mr Zuma in June - was seen as the next most likely successor, named by 16% of the people polled.
posted by TIUranta at 7:56 AM
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