(MENAFN) A recent public opinion survey has revealed that less than half of South Africans now regard democracy as the most suitable system of government, signaling a deepening crisis of confidence in the nation’s political framework, according to reports.

While the survey noted a slight improvement since the record low in 2021, it highlighted a troubling trend — for the first time in over two decades, the number of citizens expressing support for military rule has exceeded those who oppose it. Nearly half of respondents stated they would back the army taking control of national leadership.

The findings also point to widespread frustration with how democracy is functioning in the country. “Fully seven in 10 South Africans are dissatisfied with the way democracy functions in the country.” The dissatisfaction is most pronounced among low-income groups, unemployed citizens, and the middle-aged population, who believe their concerns are largely ignored by political leaders.

Persistent challenges such as joblessness, crime, corruption, and poor infrastructure have fueled this growing sense of despair. “Unemployment is the most important problem requiring government intervention,” Afrobarometer said.

Public opinion toward the current coalition government also appears divided. “Four in 10 citizens think the Government of National Unity (GNU) has been effective at solving the country’s most pressing problems, but a similar proportion disagrees.”

Political experts have cautioned that this shift in sentiment is not confined to South Africa. “This is happening continentally. There is a number of countries that are following Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso’s style of leadership. These countries appear to benefit more under the military rule than they have under years of democracy,” he said.

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