Should we stay or should we go?

Eleven percent of South Africans are considering leaving the country, according to a survey published on Tuesday.

The study conducted in February by TNS Research Surveys found that 15 percent of the white population wanted to leave, compared to nine percent of black people and 12 percent of Indian, Asian and coloured correspondents.

All in all, 60 percent of citizens were confident about the future of the country, while 26 percent were negative and 14 percent unsure, TNS said in a statement.

Their survey indicated that sentiment varied considerably depending on the race of respondents, with whites, coloureds and Indians/Asians feeling far less positive about the country than black citizens.

Of those who felt pessimistic about the future, only 15 percent were black, while 48 percent were white, 42 percent of Indian or Asian origin, and 39 percent coloured.

"The much higher negativity correlates with a great lack of confidence in the current leadership - these groups are much more negative about both President Kgalema Motlanthe (approval levels average 20 percent for these three groups compared to 54 percent for blacks) and Jacob Zuma," the survey found.

Only 10 percent of whites, coloureds and Indians felt Zuma would make a good president, compared to 58 percent of black citizens canvassed.

TNS said its survey was conducted among 2 000 people in the country's seven major metropolitan areas in face-to-face interviews and had a margin of error of under 2.5 percent.