Mbeki’s popularity wanes: poll

JOHANNESBURG – President Thabo Mbeki’s approval rating has dropped to its lowest level in four years following a series of scandals involving the governing ANC party, a poll showed yesterday.

The poll by the Johannesburg-based Research Surveys institute showed that Mbeki had a 53% approval rating, eight per cent down on the figure recorded six months ago. Mbeki, who is due to stand down as head of the African National Congress next year and president of the country in 2009, has presided over a series of embarrassing incidents in recent months during which the party’s chief whip has been expelled for sexual harassment and a string of lawmakers convicted of, or admitting to, fiddling their expenses.Research Surveys director Neil Higgs said Mbeki’s support had also tailed off as a result of the government’s failure to fight the rampant crime rate.A total of 2 000 people were questioned for the survey which has a 2,5% margin of error.Nampa-AFPMbeki, who is due to stand down as head of the African National Congress next year and president of the country in 2009, has presided over a series of embarrassing incidents in recent months during which the party’s chief whip has been expelled for sexual harassment and a string of lawmakers convicted of, or admitting to, fiddling their expenses.Research Surveys director Neil Higgs said Mbeki’s support had also tailed off as a result of the government’s failure to fight the rampant crime rate.A total of 2 000 people were questioned for the survey which has a 2,5% margin of error.Nampa-AFP