A survey on how President Kgalema Motlanthe is faring since taking office produced an unusually high number of "I don't know" responses, according to the company, TNS Research Surveys.

Forty percent of the 2000 people interviewed gave this as their reply when asked how they felt about his performance since taking over from Thabo Mbeki in September, said TNS Research Surveys on Thursday.

Motlanthe, who was sworn in as an MP earlier this year to help the ruling ANC facilitate a smooth change in administration after next year's election, was elevated to president when Mbeki was suddenly asked to resign by the party.

The survey showed a 36 percent approval rating for Motlanthe, who is also the deputy president of the ANC. It indicated that 24 percent of those interviewed did not think he was doing well in his new position.

"The high 'don't know' response is of particular note as this usually lies at around 10 to 14 percent; it indicates that people are very uncertain as yet about the president's performance," a research note read.

A breakdown of those interviewed showed that 47 percent of blacks said he is faring well, 16 percent said he isn't and 37 percent don't know.

Only 13 percent of whites say he is doing well, 42 percent believe he is not and 45 percent don't know.

Of coloureds interviewed, 20 percent think he is doing a good job, 34 percent don't and 46 percent don't know.

The approval rating among Indians surveyed was 26 percent. Thirty percent said he isn't doing a good job and 43 percent said they don't know.

The approval ratings also shifted before and after a convention organised by former ANC chairperson Terror Lekota to launch a new party on 2 November.

Before 2 November, 37 percent said he was doing a good job. After that date it dropped to 30 percent. In addition the percentage of people saying they don't know if he is doing a good job rose from 40 percent to 42 percent.

"These results suggest that the events of 2 November have served to some extent to push blacks, particularly, towards the 'don't know' category, but that other race groups moved more solidly into a negative stance on this question."

Approval levels are highest amongst those whose home language is Zulu (49 percent) and Sotho (51 percent), with Tswana speakers at 47 percent and Xhosa speakers at 37 percent.

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