South Africans are marginally more pessimistic about this year than they were about 2002, an international survey has found.
Mari Harris, a director and political analyst at Markinor research company, said on Thursday the reason for the increase was that South Africans were concerned about the economy.
”The fundamentals in South Africa are right, but people are not feeling the money in their pockets,” she told reporters in Johannesburg.
Harris was speaking at the release of the Gallup International End-Of-Year Poll 2002/2003. It was conducted in 58 countries, covering about 70% of the world population during October, November and December.
The survey asks the same questions each year and covers a wide range of topics including optimism and the economy.
South Africa’s optimism index for 2002 is the same as it was in 1993. She said that in 1993 the index had reached its lowest due to political apprehension. It was the year before the first general elections.
Between 1994 and 1996 the emerging of the African National Congress and the sustained development of democracy contributed to a buoyant mood.
However, the survey says the poor performance of the rand, poverty, high unemployment, crime and the political and economic complications brought about by the problems of Zimbabwe have led to a deterioration of South African hopes for the future.
However Harris said it had to be kept in mind that the South African part of the study was conducted in November, and this was before the surge in the value of the rand and the decrease in the petrol price.
Comparing the nine provinces, the Northern Cape is the most optimistic about the year and KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng the most pessimistic.
Harris said the Northern Cape only held two percent of the population therefore its figures fluctuated more easily, However the province was pleased with its government, and this added to optimism levels.
She said it was not unusual for KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng to be the most pessimistic because they held about 50% of the population therefore there was more competition for resources.
On economic views, 64% of employed South Africans expect an increase in unemployment and 39% expect an increase in strikes. Forty-one percent believe they may lose their jobs and 62% believe it may take long to find a new job.
Blacks are more upbeat about the future than any other population groups and 16- to 24 year-olds remain the most optimistic in the age groups.
South African men are more optimistic than women. – Sapa