30 percent want to leave South Africa

There is a clear link between political uncertainty and emigration, according to Grant Thorton's International Business Report survey released on Thursday.

"This uncertainty needs to be resolved quickly so that business owners can play the major part required of them to ensure the economy remains strong," Leonard Brehm, national chairperson of Grant Thornton said.

According to the survey, 30 percent of respondents had given serious consideration to leaving South Africa permanently.

When asked why, 72 percent cited political uncertainty, which significantly increased from 15 percent last year, the survey found.

A regional analysis revealed that political uncertainty prompted 81 percent of respondents in Cape Town to consider emigrating (15 percent in 2008) and 71 percent in Gauteng (three percent in 2008).

In Durban and the Eastern Cape, 67 percent of respondents cited political uncertainty. In Durban this was 15 percent in 2008 and the Eastern Cape it was six percent in 2008.

The survey found that 23 percent of businesses surveyed felt that political uncertainty impacted on their decision-making process.