More popular than ever: President Jacob Zuma
Zuma's increased popularity was thought to be due to his visit to Zimbabwe in August and the establishment of a task team in that country.
"It could also be related to his nomination of a new chief justice and the launch of a presidential hotline," Higgs said.
Black South Africans were more approving of Zuma, with 75 percent agreeing with his leadership.
Whites were "remarkably" positive about Zuma, but 32 percent were still unsure of his leadership.
"The majority of Coloureds and Indians were described as 'fence-sitters', also unsure of Zuma," said Higgs.
On the whole, Zuma was more popular than former president Thabo Mbeki, who ended his term on a rating of 34 percent.
The TNS results were drawn from three studies conducted among a sample of 2000 South African adults from seven of the major metropolitan areas of South Africa.
Sapa
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