A new survey, conducted in October last year, has revealed that African National Congress Youth League leader Julius Malema only has the support of 23 percent of ruling party members.

Malema was rated particularly poorly by white, indian and coloured voters.

It also showed that former president Thabo Mbeki was more popular than ANC leader Jacob Zuma at the time that Mbeki was recalled.

Ipsos Markinor?s Mari Harris said white and coloured South Africans had little confidence in Zuma and few people believed he was innocent of corruption.

"Just less than half of the eligible voters, 48 percent, said they do have confidence in [Zuma]," she said.