South Africa's Black elite is reshaping the country's political landscape, says analyst - EWN

Political economist Dr Ismail Lagardien believes early election trends point to an increasingly important class divide in South African politics, with middle-class voters more inclined to protect their existing circumstances while many working-class voters have become resigned to government failures.

Speaking on CapeTalk during an interview about the emerging election trends, Lagardien said middle-class voters generally tended to be better educated, more politically aware and more engaged with politics and the media.

He argued that this translated into a tendency to vote for the status quo, particularly among people living in suburban areas where local government services were functioning relatively well.

"One of the things about the middle-class vote is it tends to be a status quo vote," Lagardien said.

He explained that middle-class voters often wanted to preserve the conditions they enjoyed in their own neighbourhoods.

"Things are working well in my suburb, so let me keep it that way, let me make sure that it stays that way."