Only 21% of whites optimistic about South Africa

Johannesburg - A survey by TNS Research has found that a new low of 49% of metropolitan adults feel positive about South Africa and its future compared with 60% in February. The reading in February was then a new low and the yearly average in 2007 was 66%. Analysis by race group shows that while blacks are generally the most positive, in the quarter to June their figure also shows its largest drop since 2004, from 73% to 63%.

While whites generally have figures around the mid-40s (except for 2005 when, for a time, they rose to 59%), the February reading showed a dramatic drop to 31%, this further declining to 21% in June.

The figures for coloureds have been trending downwards slowly since 2005 but now sit at 32%, also a new all time low. The Indian/Asian figures are more erratic, also showing a slow decline since 2005, reaching a new low of 34% now.

Analysis by area shows that, in June 2008, optimism was highest in the Johannesburg and Bloemfontein areas (69% and 63% respectively) and lowest in Cape Town (35%), with the Eastern Cape showing the largest drop.

Younger people (those aged 18 to 24 years) are more positive (57%) than those aged 50 to 59 (44% are positive) and those aged 60 years and older (34%).

There are no gender differences. Interestingly, unemployed people are more optimistic (58%) than others (47%).

TNS has conducted a series of surveys since 2004 that ascertain how positively people feel about South Africa and its future. These surveys are conducted among a sample of 2 000 SA adults from the seven major metropolitan areas of South Africa, interviewing them face-to-face in their homes, with a margin of error of under 2.5%. The latest reading was taken in June 2008.