Media briefs

For South Africa to be effective in its interventions into the underlying causes of undernutrition or the chronic lifestyle diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, an approach needs to be developed to better understand the mechanisms that link social factors to nutrition.

The key results of the latest National Survey of Research and Experimental Development (R&D) have been released, revealing some interesting trends.

South Africans tend to oppose political intervention by religious leaders in relation to swaying voting decisions during times of elections and broader state decision-making. The latest round of the annual South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS), conducted nationally in November and early December 2008, included a detailed module on religious beliefs and practice.

The African National Congress (ANC) remains the most popular party among voters, but with less than a majority at 47%. The DA seems on course to maintain its official opposition status with 7% of the electorate saying they would vote for the party. More voters, at 3%, expressed preference for the newly formed Congress of the People (COPE) over the other old, established parties such as the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Independent Democrats (ID) with only 2% and 1% respectively, saying that they would get their votes.

The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) released the final Voter Participation Survey today at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand ahead of the final voter registration weekend of 7 and 8 February 2009.

A top scholar from the University of Stellenbosch has been appointed as an executive director of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

South Africa spent just over R16.5 billion, or 0.95% of GDP, on research and experimental development (R&D) in 2006/07.

Pretoria - How can African governments empower people in developing communities - especially women and children, the most vulnerable in society - to have a more direct say in how public monies are spent to develop their communities? How can citizens in Africa's most needy areas engage with municipal governments to ensure that their needs and rights are met?

South Africa spent just over R14.1 billion, or 0.92% of GDP, on research and experimental development (R&D) in 2005/06. This is according to the national survey (commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST)) of financial and human resource inputs into R&D, undertaken by the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII) of the HSRC Knowledge Systems unit based in Cape Town.

This report provides detailed information about multiple deprivation in South Africa. A ward-level Index of Multiple Deprivation has been created for each of South Africa's nine provinces using data from the 2001 Census.

South African National Research and Experimental Development (R&D) data meet requirements for official data.

South Africa spent 0.81% of GD, on research and development (R&D) in 2003/04.

Emigration figures of highly skilled researchers remain high, but the greatest mobility of high-level skills is now within the country.

The National Research and Development (R&D) Survey 2001/2 is now available.

National results

• HSRC survey predicts two-thirds election majority for ANC
• HSRC survey highlights interesting aspects of voter preferences
• Full slide presentation

Provincial results

• Western Cape
  • Full slide presentation
• Eastern Cape
  • Full slide presentation
• Northern Cape
  • Full slide presentation
• Mpumalanga
  • Full slide presentation
• Limpopo
  • Full slide presentation
• Free State
  • Full slide presentation
• Gauteng
  • Full slide presentation
• KwaZulu-Natal
  • Full slide presentation
• North West
  • Full slide presentation

The ANC will have the support of 70,9% of the voters in Gauteng province in next year’s provincial election, according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The ANC will have the support of 86,7% of the voters in North West province in next year’s provincial election, according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The ANC will have the support of 46,6% of the voters in KwaZulu-Natal province in next year’s provincial election, according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The ANC will have the support of 63% of the voters in Northern Cape province in next year’s provincial election, according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The ANC will have the support of 81,6% of the voters in Free State in next year’s provincial election, according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The ANC will have the support of 93,3% of the voters in Limpopo in next year’s provincial election, according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The ANC will have the support of 78,2% of the voters in Mpumalanga in next year’s provincial election, according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The ANC will have the support of 84,2% of the voters in the Eastern Cape province in next year’s provincial election, according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

Cape Town – The NNP will have the support of 40% of the voters in the Western Cape province in next year’s provincial election, according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

Race still plays a major role in voter decisions, women dominate the support for some parties, the balance of party allegiance changes as voters get older, and support for opposition parties is lowest in South Africa’s rural areas.

An extensive nation-wide survey conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), called the South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS), has predicted that the ANC will secure just over a two-thirds majority in next year’s parliamentary election.

Take note: More than half of all domestic tourism in South Africa is to visit friends and family.

The HSRC's new Knowledge Management research programme is to conduct the 2002 National Research and Development Survey on behalf of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), starting mid September.