According to the results of a survey by the Institute for Democracy released this week, sixty percent of respondents said they would not allow a member of a political party they opposed to stage a political event in their
Asked whether they would allow a member of a party they most opposed to teach history to their children, 57 percent said they would not.
The survey reveals that the “intolerance factor” is not influenced signifcantly by race, gender, age or income.
Idasa’s Richard Calland says the survey results have significant implications for the upcoming local government elections, both in terms of the “freeness and fairness” of the poll and for those responsible for voter education.
The survey shows that two thirds of South Africans place the church ahead of any political party as the most important organisation in their personal lives. Identification with the church increases with age and affluence. Conversely, political party support is highest among the poorer and younger sectors of the population.