60% of SA positive about future

Johannesburg - About 11% of South Africans are seriously considering emigration, according to a TNS Research Surveys study on optimism and emigration.

Of the 60% of respondents who are positive about South Africa, 9% indicate they are considering emigration. On the other hand, 16% of the 26% negative about the country's future believe emigration to be a solution.

Black people are the most positive, with 72% expressing optimism about the country and its future.

"The greater negativity among whites, coloured persons, Indians and Asians corresponds with the considerable lack of confidence in the current leadership - these individuals are far more negative about President Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma," explains a TNS statement. Of these three groups, only one tenth of the respondents reckon Zuma will make a good president, compared with 58% of black respondents.

Neil Higgs, director of innovation and development at TNS, notes that in the past couple of quarters optimism has improved, after reaching a low of 49% in the second quarter of 2008.

There are also significantly more individuals considering emigration. In 2004 the figure was 9%-odd.

He reckons the fact that 23% of all university students are seriously considering leaving the country is a major worry.

Younger people, according to TNS, are more receptive to the idea of emigration, with 13% of all those under 24 thinking about packing their suitcases, in contrast to 9% of those aged 50 and above.

The TNS study shows that while whites, coloureds and Indians or Asians want to leave the country mainly for political and economic reasons, in the case of blacks economic reasons are the only driving force.

TNS bases its findings on 2 000 personal interviews conducted in respondents' homes in February this year.

- Sake24.com

For more business news in Afrikaans, go to Sake24.com.