The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) has published a public opinion survey, the South African Reconciliation Barometer 2023, which has revealed that South Africa is facing several serious challenges, including the high cost of living, loadshedding, deep poverty and unemployment.

The IJR’s public opinion survey aims to provide a nationally representative measure of South African citizens’ attitudes to national reconciliation, social cohesion, transformation and democratic governance.   

The South African Reconciliation Barometer was first published in 2003, marking the report’s twentieth anniversary, this year.

According to the report, the balance of trust in the country is low and nowhere is this more evident than in attitudes about leadership.

Around eight out of ten South Africans agree that national leaders are not concerned about what happens to ordinary people.

About 79% of people believe leadership cannot be trusted to do the right thing.

On the issue of a range of important public institutions, early survey rounds found that more than half of all South Africans expressed confidence in these in the past decade. In 2023 only 33% of South Africans expressed confidence in the legal system while 32% felt confident about national government.

Only 35% South Africans have confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The report also reveals that 82% of South Africans believe that corrupt officials often get away with crimes and 74% believe that there is no real political will to fight corruption.

South Africans have yet to see those implicated in the Zondo Commission of Inquiry report charged with graft despite the high spend on the commission.

Furthermore, the report paints a gloomy picture as it states that South Africa remains one of the most unequal societies in the world.