Polygamy and the President: Survey Taps Public Opinion

Having more than one wife at a time irks 74 percent of South Africans surveyed on the subject, according to a research company.

Black females, especially, say they have a problem with this marital choice, a TNS market research release said.

Only 18 percent of the 2000 people interviewed over the phone in seven metropolitan areas say there is no problem, with black men favouring the marital choice over all the groups surveyed.

The research showed that 80 percent of black females have a problem with it, 55 percent of black males, 78 percent of Indians and Asians, 85 percent of coloureds and 86 percent of whites.

People surveyed in Cape Town and the Eastern Cape had more of a problem with it than people living in Soweto, Durban and Johannesburg's East Rand.

This result came out of a questionnaire to gain insight into what people expect of their leaders with respect to morality and their private lives, the research company explained.

"In light of the charges against Mr [Jacob] Zuma with respect to corruption charges that have been withdrawn and re-instated — and are still the subject of much controversy and rumours of again being withdrawn, it is important to determine what people do expect of a country's leader," the company said.

"Half of the people do not expect a leader's credentials to be impeccable but most do not agree that a man should have more than one wife at a time," they said, alluding to African National Congress president Zuma's polygamous marital choice.

Half of the people surveyed do not expect a leader's morality to be impeccable, they said.

However, 38 percent agree that a leader's morality should be above reproach.

"It may be that other perceived leadership qualities are more important to these people than morality," the researchers said.

People were also asked how they felt Zuma would perform as a possible president of South Africa.

"Exactly 40% feel that he will do a good job but exactly 40% feel he will not, with 20% giving a 'don't know' response," the company said.

In October and November 2008, the same question elicited a 36 percent positive response, a 40 percent negative response and a 24 percent "don't know" response, indicating movement into a "more positive stance".

Their interpretation of the survey results is that Zuma's support has shown an increase amongst blacks, but a drop amongst whites, Indians and Asians.

The researchers also say that metro South Africans are relatively tolerant about a leader's morality, with half saying that this is not an issue and four in 10 saying it is an issue.

"Further, whilst the vast majority of people do not approve of multiple wives at one time, over half feel that a leader's private life is his or her own affair and that the press should respect this."