The poll, conducted by research company Ipsos, asked 3565 people to evaluate the performance of the president, deputy president, national government, municipalities, and the leader of the opposition.

Of those polled, 60 percent indicated Zuma was performing well. This figure remains almost unchanged from the previous Ipsos poll conducted at the end of last year, where Zuma received 61 percent.

Zuma received 66 percent in May 2011.

Over a third of respondents, 36 percent, felt Zuma was not performing well.

Nearly three-quarters of African National Congress supporters, 73 percent, believed Zuma was doing a good job while only 38 percent of Democratic Alliance supporters held the same opinion.

Zuma received a favourability rating of 6.06 out of 10, not indicative of his performance but rather how he was perceived by respondents.

Over half, 58 percent, of respondents believed Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe was doing a good job. Twenty-nine percent disagreed and 13 percent were undecided.

Helen Zille was described as performing her duties well by 42 percent of respondents. This figure shifted between DA supporters, 80 percent, and ANC supporters, 35 percent.

Zille received a favourability rating of 4.08 out of 10.

The poll found for the first time since 1994 that national government, at 61 percent, was perceived to be doing a better job than any of its leaders.

A third, 34 percent, felt national government was not doing a good job.

Only 45 percent of respondents thought municipalities were performing their duties well, the lowest score, versus 51 percent against.

Both ANC (48 percent) and DA supporters (49 percent) showed similar numbers regarding the poor performance of municipalities.

"It could be expected that their scores [municipalities] would be lower, since they affect lives directly," said Ipsos public affairs director Mari Harris.

The poll was conducted between April 13 and May 18.