JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's rand strengthened on Friday as analysts said a recent poll suggested there was no alternative to the governing African National Congress (ANC), despite a fall in its support.

At 1543 GMT, the rand traded at 18.8250 against the dollar, 1.1% stronger than its previous close.

An Ipsos opinion poll showed ANC support had fallen to just over 40%, weeks before a general election that could herald the biggest political change since the end of the apartheid era.

"The latest Ipsos poll suggested that there is no real alternative to the ruling ANC party and that EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) and MK (uMkhonto we Sizwe) are effectively fighting for the same voter base," said Natalia Gurushina, chief emerging markets economist at VanEck.

Ipsos estimated support for the EFF party at 11.5% and former President Jacob Zuma backed MK at 8.4%.

If the ANC gets less than 50% support in the May 29 election, it would have to seek coalition partners to govern. Potential partners include its nearest rival, the Democratic Alliance, and the EFF.

Local investors will next week turn their attention to monthly money supply, trade and budget balance figures for clues on the health of South Africa's economy.

On the stock market, the Top-40 index closed 1.34% higher while the broader all-share index ended up 1.4%.

South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond was stronger, with the yield down 12 basis points to 10.785%.

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Alexander Smith)