About 90% of people questioned in a recent poll want the government to tackle unemployment urgently, according to a SABC-Markinor survey released yesterday.

A total of 3 500 respondents, who were interviewed during the study from October 18 to November last year, agreed that the lack of jobs had to be addressed immediately.

The survey titled "Government Performance: Expectations and Perceptions", revealed that 64% of South Africans were concerned about crime.

The percentages for poverty and HIV/Aids stood at 48 for both.

On health, corruption, education and brain drain, about 22, 21, 16 and four per cent of South Africans respectively agreed the government should look into these.

"It is significant that nine out of every 10 South Africans spontaneously mentioned the issues of unemployment and the necessity to create jobs," the study found.

"Although all other issues lag far behind, crime, poverty and HIV/Aids have been highlighted as issues that still need to be addressed.

This can be an early indicator of specific issues politicians can address in the run-up to the elections".

Where respondents mentioned more than one issue, they were asked to state, which they regarded as the most importent.

About 45% selected unemployment, 18% opted for crime, six per cent chose poverty and 11% mentioned HIV/Aids.

"The dominance of the unemployment issue is confirmed as more than half of South Africans have indicated that this, to them, is definitely the most vital thing the government should address," the study concluded.

"HIV/Aids is now firmly in third place, well ahead of poverty and mentioned by just over a tenth of the respondents".

Unemployment had the same prominence among supporters of the country's four largest political parties - the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance, the Inkatha Freedom Party and the New National Party.

About 61 percent of ANC supporters and 67 percent of IFP supporters highlighted the lack of jobs as the issue, which dominated their minds the most.

The NNP and the DA registered 37 and 31% respectively in this regard.

With regards to crime, about 10% of ANC supporters indicated concern.

The percentages among IFP supporters was nine, 43 for the DA and 38 for the NNP.

Twelve per cent of the ANC supporters and eight per cent of IFP supporters wanted their organisations to address HIV/Aids.

The figure was five per cent among NNP and DA members.

"The views of ANC and IFP supporters are very similar," the study found.

"On the other hand there is considerable unanimity about the important issues between the DA and NNP followers. The challenge of the leadership of the parties is to create a belief among voters that they have the best policies to address the different issues, as opposed to their contenders' views".

The government's performance on key issues - welfare payments, gender equality and the delivery of basic services – were evaluated positively.

The government was seen to be performing the best in delivering welfare payments to those who were entitled to them, with 78% saying it was doing "very" or "fairly well" in helping those in need.

The results were exactly the same as the previous year, the study said.

The government's efforts to deliver basic services, such as water and electricity, received the approval of 72%, on par with gender equality at 73%.

However, as in the past, less than two in 10 South Africans, (18% down from 22% a year ago), thought the government was faring "very" or "fairly well" on the key public concern of reducing unemployment by creating jobs.

And, only 31% of South Africans were confident in the government's efforts to tackle the other major popular concern - crime.

This score was down from 36 percent a year ago.

With lower inflation and interest rates it was not surprising that the government's efforts to control inflation received more approval - almost half - believed it was managing "very" or "fairly well".

Overall "managing the economy" improved from 46% a year ago to 50%. – Sapa.