Access to government services and government performance

The results of this survey show that the public’s opinions varied greatly on the use of the government or public institutions. This survey interviewed respondents aged 16 years and older to gauge their levels of satisfaction with some government/public services.

Public transport services are the most commonly-used services among all government or public institutions, with more than four in ten (43,4%) of individuals aged 16 years and older using these services in the 12 months before the survey. The least used services are correctional services (1,0%).

The results show that the proportion of users who rated government services as satisfactory exceeds the proportion of those who rated government services as dissatisfactory. The levels of satisfaction ranged from 72% to 92%. The proportion of those that were satisfied with services was highest among the persons who used social security services (92,0%) and the lowest satisfaction level was amongst those who used public housing services (72,5%). 

More than one-quarter (27,5%) of residents aged 16 years and older were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the provision of public housing, while 23,0% were not happy with police services. When it comes to public health facilities, 22,6% said they were not happy with public clinics and 22,3% expressed dissatisfaction with public hospitals.

The results of the survey show large differences between residents in metro and non-metro areas, except with regards to public clinics and public schools, where the proportions were very similar.

Level of trust in government and public institutions

Overall, it appears that the levels of public trust in government and public institutions were high among individuals aged 16 years and older. Levels of trust were highest for education services and lowest for SAPS. Trust levels in government or public institutions differed by whether one has used the services or not. The difference is significant for all services except for SAPS services. 

Limpopo (78,6%), Eastern Cape (78,3%), KwaZulu-Natal (71,2%), Mpumalanga (69,9%), Northern Cape (66,4%), and Free State (61,5%) had the highest proportions of South Africans aged 16 years and older who either trusted or strongly trusted the national government.

Regarding the local government, Limpopo (69,5%), KwaZulu-Natal (64,3%), Eastern Cape (63,8%), Western Cape (59,7%), and Gauteng (55,4%) had the highest proportions of the population who either strongly trusted or trusted local government compared to other provinces.

People in both urban and rural areas trusted the national government more than the provincial governments and local governments.

Individuals’ experience of corruption

The survey shows that overall the proportion of individuals aged 16 years and older who had paid a bribe or who had to give a bribe to government officials in exchange for government services in the 12 months prior to the survey was low. Only about one per cent of the population reported that they had paid bribes for traffic offences as well as to law enforcement/ police institutions.

General perceptions of individuals on gender norms and societal issues

The study has found strong public support for women’s empowerment and gender equality by males and females. There is almost universal acceptance that fathers play an important role in raising their children. This is also true across both sexes. More than nine out of ten (92,0%) South Africans aged 16 years and agreed that women should have the same chance as men to be elected to political office, although a larger proportion of females than males (94,3% compared to 89,5%) support this statement. The population also agreed that financial independence was the best way to realise female independence. Almost sixty-five per cent (64,6%) of the population felt that women who earned more money than their husbands would cause problems. This belief was more common amongst males (67,5%) than females (62,2%). Almost all persons, irrespective of marital status, agreed that employers should prefer women over men when filling posts while jobs are scarce. 

Most South Africans aged 16 years or older did not believe that there is a justification for a man/ husband to hit or beat his female partner/ wife.

Although more than 90% of the population knew that corporal punishment is illegal in South Africa, more than a quarter of the population felt that is was justifiable to physically punish children if they talked back at their parents or caregivers. More than a third of the population agreed there were certain situations where it should be acceptable for a teacher/ educator to physically punish a child in their class/ school.

A larger percentage of persons in rural than in urban areas agreed with the statement that employers should give preference to locals over foreigners while employment was scarce. The highest support for this contention was noted in KwaZulu-Natal, while the lowest support was observed in Mpumalanga.

More than 80% of individuals aged 16 years and older trusted other people in their communities or neighbourhoods. Most South Africans aged 16 years and older also exhibited high acceptance of people with HIV/AIDS (89,5%), people of different religions (86,3%), people of different race groups (81,4%), and unmarried couples living together like married couples (83,8%). Most were, however, not comfortable living next to paedophiles, drug users, and drug sellers/ dealers.