Podcast appearances · Radar

Elsa Thirion Venter

Director and co-owner of MarkData (Pty) Ltd, South African survey and market research firm; registered research psychologist and prominent election pollster.

2

APPEARANCES

2

PODCASTS

Oct 23, 2026

The Clement Manyathela Show

The Clement Manyathela Show

Across the Desk: Election polls — what are they really telling us?

Oct 23 · 44m

Clement ManyathelaHOST

11:21

Why is it important to use like the simulated ballot and what sort of, have you picked up any differences in how the new way versus the old way?

Elsa Thirion-VenterGUEST

11:31

We use the simulated ballot that it looks like the ballot paper, you know, that it's not a strange foreign concept to the people.

Elsa Thirion-VenterGUEST

11:41

Everything is now being done by our CAPI, Computer Assisted Personal Intervening.

Elsa Thirion-VenterGUEST

11:46

We don't use paper anymore.

Elsa Thirion-VenterGUEST

11:49

Yes, there are certain things that you lose, but yes, you gain a lot.

Elsa Thirion-VenterGUEST

11:55

For example, quality controls are much better on the personal, on CAPI.

Elsa Thirion-VenterGUEST

12:04

Because you can build in, you know, routine questions.

16 MINS LATER

Clement ManyathelaHOST

28:26

And then for you, Elsa, what picture did you see when you guys did the pulse? Well,

The Button That Saved the ANC

Oct 22 · 33m

1:30

We just make them up.

Elsa Thirion VenterGUEST

1:33

So we're researchers.

Elsa Thirion VenterGUEST

1:34

We don't make them up.

Elsa Thirion VenterGUEST

1:36

So you say.

Elsa Thirion VenterGUEST

1:37

And we follow scientific principles.

Elsa Thirion VenterGUEST

1:40

So you say.

Elsa Thirion VenterGUEST

1:42

So we do.

19 MINS LATER

20:54

How do these external factors influence the ultimate results?