The proportion of people in South Africa’s major metropolitan areas who are unhappy with the service delivery they receive from their local authority or municipality increased to 58% in February, from 51% in November, TNS Research Surveys said on Thursday.

TNS surveyed 2 000 residents in seven metropolitan areas.

“This significant change suggests that perceptions are worsening in the run-up to next week’s local government elections,” the company said in a statement.

TNS noted that 36% of those surveyed were satisfied with the service delivery they receive, which is down from 41% in November. Only 6% gave a “don’t know” response.

Perceptions have worsened considerably in Gauteng, especially Pretoria and the East Rand, as well as East London and Bloemfontein.

Further comparisons with 2010 data show that perceptions have worsened amongst blacks (54% to 61%) and whites (44% to 52%), with other race groups showing much smaller shifts. As a result, virtually all demographics show a worsening of perceptions.

Meanwhile, people were asked to select the three most pressing issues that their local municipality should address. The results highlighted needs that often go beyond the local level and show the stress that people face at a more holistic level, TNS said.

The top two concerns include supporting job creation (66%) and preventing crime (60%). The need to provide housing was also of concern to those surveyed, with 44% mentioning this.

How people live has been a strong focus of much of the campaigning in recent weeks, with many politicians expressing dismay over people’s living conditions. The call by people for better living conditions has also been the subject of many protests and disappointment at its slow pace of delivery.

Other concerns included education and training (29%), keeping roads maintained (23%), accurate billings and rates accounts (20%), the provision of electricity (16%) and the provision of water (10%).

Concerns at the lower end of the list include the need for recreational facilities (10%), the provision of refusal removal (7%), the need for street lighting (7%), and the need for public transport (5%).

It was noted that housing was of greater concern to poor people –36% of those living in informal dwellings put this as their top need form their local authority, higher than any other need.

From 1994 to 2010, the housing backlog has grown from 1,5-million to over 2,1-million, meaning that some 12-million people still need adequate housing.