DA overtakes ANC as bread-and-butter concerns triple party’s black support – IRR

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has surpassed the African National Congress (ANC) for the first time in the IRR’s long record of polling public opinion.

Crucially, the DA’s support among black registered voters has more than tripled – from 5% to 18% – highlighting a move beyond traditional voting patterns and signalling the potential emergence of a politics defined by socio-economic concerns rather than identity-based grievance.

The demographically representative survey, conducted between 27 March and 3 April 2025, has a 95% confidence interval and a 4% margin of error.

A detailed analysis of the poll will be given in a webinar at 10am tomorrow morning, at which IRR Head of Strategic Communications Hermann Pretorius will unpack the results.

Key findings are:

1. DA overtakes ANC: For the first time in IRR polling, the DA (30.3%) edges past the ANC (29.7%). The ANC’s proposal to raise VAT has contributed significantly to this shift.
2. Tripled support from black voters: DA support among black voters has surged from 5% to 18%, demonstrating the political potential for the DA to grow its support across traditional divides by focusing on pragmatic policy issues, especially economic concerns.
3. ANC support falls: Following a temporary rebound after the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), ANC support has now fallen below 30%. Where the public perceives the GNU as a vehicle for political moderation and collaboration, the ANC has estranged voters with its continued pursuit of unpopular socio-economic policies, of which the VAT increase has proved a costly example.

Join tomorrow’s webinar by registering at: https://streamyard.com/watch/ZsB2P9KWxtQc

Media contact: Hermann Pretorius IRR Head of Strategic Communications Tel: 079 875 4290 Email: hermann@irr.org.za

Media enquiries: Michael Morris Tel: 066 302 1968 Email: michael@irr.org.za