Survey's results are damning for president

There is an almost uniform perception across race and party affiliation that President Jacob Zuma improperly benefited from security upgrades to his Nkandla residence.

In an Ipsos survey, 73% of respondents agreed with the statement that "the amount spent is excessive and the money has been misused".

A mere 18% of registered voters thought the upgrades were justified.

A total of 68% of ANC voters agreed with the statement.

More worryingly for the ANC, the poll was conducted between February 20 and March 11, before public protector Thuli Madonsela had found the president had indeed "benefited unduly" from the upgrades. That finding will no doubt solidify this view in the party.

As part of a fully representative survey of 2222 registered voters, respondents were asked which of the following two statements they agreed with more: "Some people say Jacob Zuma deserves expensive security at his private home because he is the president and must be protected. Other people say the amount spent is excessive and the money has been misused."

Across the four race groups, the results are damning for Zuma. Seventy percent of black voters, 84% of white voters, 67% of Indian voters and 78% of coloured voters agreed "the amount spent is excessive and the money has been misused".

Only 22%, 3%, 15% and 12% of voters in each respective group thought the president was entitled to "expensive security".

The results by party affiliation were no better for the president, with 68% of ANC supporters, 82% of Democratic Alliance supporters and 80% of Economic Freedom Fighters supporters agreeing the money was misused.

By comparison, only 24%, 8% and 14% of voters for each of the respective parties agreed the upgrades were justified.

The result represents something of a crisis for the ruling party, which has tried to discredit the public protector through its Youth League. It called for Madonsela to resign, although it was later called to account for that statement by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.

This week, former minister Pallo Jordan wrote in Business Day that "Zuma has been implicated in every scandal that has arisen during his term of office, making it impossible to approach his office in search of a solution".

Opposition parties have used the opportunity to campaign on Nkandla. The DA has released a TV advert on the protector's findings, and its parliamentary leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko, has submitted a motion of no confidence in the president in parliament.