Recent survey findings from the South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR) show that the African National Congress (ANC) faces significant risks if it does not realign its policies to meet the electorate's demands.

On Tuesday, IRR head of strategic communications Hermann Pretorius unpacked the organisation’s 2025 opinion survey, which said registered voters showed preferences for merit-based policies, job creation and value-for-money government spending over race-based initiatives.

This survey was conducted between March 27 and April 3, 2025, with 807 respondents, to assess public opinion on various socioeconomic issues and political preferences.

Pretorius said the findings indicated that the ANC policies were misaligned with voter preferences.

He explained that there was broad support for voucher-based empowerment policies over traditional affirmative action and black economic empowerment frameworks, which he said suggested a shift towards individual choice in empowerment strategies.

This preference, he said, was particularly strong among younger voters and those in economically disadvantaged areas.

He believes that the ANC risks alienating voters by sticking to “outdated” race-based policies.

The findings also pointed to 73% of ANC supporters favouring merit-based appointments; 65% preferring value-for-money procurement over racial targets, while 79% oppose the Expropriation Act.

Pretorius pointed out that the strong opposition to the Expropriation Act, indicated concerns over property rights among voters.

This sentiment, he said, reflected a broader desire for policies that protected individual ownership.

The controversial Expropriation Bill signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year has been met with criticism from some opposition parties and civil society, and has been the catalyst for US President Donald Trump’s decision to terminate all United States Agency for International Development aid to South Africa.

He explained that a strong majority of South Africans prefered merit-based hiring over race-based quotas, saying this indicated a desire for fairness in employment practices.

​“This preference is consistent across various demographic and political groups. Eight-four percent of voters favour merit-based hiring. Support for merit spans all racial and income groups. Only 16% support race-first hiring policies,” he said.

He pointed out that ANC supporters indicated 73% preference for merit, which he said showed a disconnect in ANC policies.

Pretorius said South Africans overwhelmingly supported value-for-money procurement practices over race-based targets, emphasising the need for cost-effective government spending.

​He explained that this preference was evident across all demographics and party affiliations, noting that 81.7% of voters prefer procurement based on cost and quality.

Only 16.6% support paying a premium for racial targets, while 65% of ANC supporters favour value-for-money procurement, he added.​

Pretorius also pointed to the majority of South Africans prioritising job creation over expanding welfare programmes, noting that this indicated a desire for opportunities rather than dependency.

He highlighted that this preference was particularly strong among ANC supporters.

Pretorius said voters wanted policies that unlocked job creation and safeguarded property rights, noting that the ANC's current policies were opposed by most of its own supporters.

​He said a shift towards pro-growth, merit-driven policies was essential for electoral survival, and that political parties must adapt to the electorate's preferences to remain relevant.

Meanwhile, unemployment and job creation remained the top priority for South Africans, significantly overshadowing other concerns.

​“This consensus spans across various demographic groups, highlighting the urgency for effective job creation policies. 29.4% of voters prioritise job creation as the top issue. Other concerns like illegal immigration (9.1%) and crime (8.5%) lag far behind. Job creation is the top priority across 27 out of 28 demographic breakdowns,” Pretorius explained.

He said a party that effectively addressed job creation could reshape political loyalty.