PRESS RELEASE

Astonishing results of SAs First Social Media Technology Driven Political Sentiment
Survey
Johannesburg
3 August 2017
For Immediate Release
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During June and July this year, local research house, Ratepop, conducted a ground-breaking South African
electorate sentiment survey, using a social media research bot, with astounding results.
Ratepop CEO, Socratis Avgitidis, says, We are the first company to use a Facebook messenger bot to
conduct extensive political polling research. Voters were randomly sent SMS messages asking them to
participate in a political survey without reward. More than 6 000 voters across the spectrum of South African
political affiliation agreed to participate, and the results have been astonishing. Today we are delighted at
being able to release the first set of results, which focuses on the views of ANC voters.
As part of the survey, close to 2 000 randomly selected ANC voters, (members of the electorate who voted for
the ANC in the 2016 Municipal Elections), were asked a number of questions about leadership of the country,
the parliamentary vote of no confidence and the role of President Jacob Zuma in the 2019 General Elections.
Questions & Results
1. If parliament holds a vote of no confidence in Jacob Zuma, should ANC MPs follow their
conscience or vote on the instruction of the party.
Asked whether ANC members of parliament should vote based on their personal conscience or follow the
instructions of their party, 59.2% of ANC voters polled believed that MPs should vote as they see fit rather
than follow the instructions of their party. This is particularly significant given the no confidence vote
scheduled in parliament on 8 August.

2. Are you more or less likely to vote for the ANC in the general elections if Jacob Zuma stays
as President of South Africa until 2019?
Asked whether Jacob Zuma remaining on as President until 2019 would make ANC voters more or less likely to
vote for the ANC in the upcoming national elections, 46.1% of ANC voters said less likely, while 24.5% said
more likely.

3. Who would you like to see as President of South Africa after the 2019 elections?
Asked who ANC voters would like to see as the next President of South Africa, Deputy President Cyril
Ramaphosa came out as clear favourite with 49.5% of ANC support, with Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma a
distant second at 17.9%.
Surprisingly, third most popular leader amongst ANC supporters is EFF's Julius Malema with 5.2%, followed by
Lindiwe Sisulu at 3.5% almost tied with DA leader Mmusi Maimane with 3.2% of ANC voter support.
Other presidential hopefuls, Baleka Mbete, Mathews Phosa and Zweli Mkhize barely register on the support
scale amongst ANC voters.

4. What is the key deciding factor that you consider when choosing who to vote for?
ANC voters were also asked what the one deciding factor would be in determining their vote in the 2019 general
elections.
Not surprisingly, unemployment came in first at 25,5%, housing was second at 14.6% and service
delivery was third at 12.5%. BEE comes in at 11.6% and reducing crime and corruption at 10.7%.
It is interesting to note that the issue of White Monopoly Capital does not appear to have resonated with the
ANCs electorate. A mere 1.2% of ANC voters believe that White Monopoly Capital is a big enough issue
to determine their vote.

This is one of the largest political surveys ever conducted in South Africa and the first of its kind
said Avgitidis. We will release additional survey data about the ANC succession race as well as changes in
political support between the ANC, DA and EFF over the next few weeks.
About Ratepop
Ratepop is a real-time rating engine that uses app and social media technology to deliver large scale consumer
sentiment research in a fast and cost effective manner.
All survey results are collated in real-time and displayed on management dashboards that allow clients to cut
and slice data with easy filters, so as to generate customised user-useful results.

For more information please contact:

Socratis Avgitidis
0826745133
Chief Operating Officer
socratis@ratepop.com / www.ratepop.com