'Cheers!' are becoming muted
2003-01-03 14:19
Bloemfontein - The sweet smell of optimism seems to be increasingly absent from the cheer of South African New Year celebrations.
The local results of an international survey, done annually by research group Gallup International, indicate that two out of five (38%) of all South Africans believe 2003 will be worse than its predecessor.
In the study done at the end of 2001, one third of the respondents expected a worse year ahead.
As in 2001, nearly a third of the respondents (29%) expect an improvement in 2003 on last year.
Markinor, Gallup's subsidiary in South Africa, polled 3 500 South Africans in October and November 2002 about their expectations for the new year. The results were released this week.
The results showed that 38% (or 1 330) of the respondents were afraid of difficult economic conditions. In 2001, this figure was 35% (1 225). Only 23% (805) of the respondents had a positive economic outlook for 2003.
More strikes expected in 2003
Of those polled, 39% (1 365) believed that labour strikes were inevitable. Only 13% (455) felt that labour action would decrease. In 2001, 15% (525) thought labour action would drop off.
More than three out of every five South Africans (64% or 2 240) predicted that unemployment would rise in 2003. Only 14% (490) believed there would be a reduction.
As in 2001, 41% of the respondents were afraid of losing their jobs this year, and 9% would not even try to find work if this happened.
More South Africans had a positive outlook on foreign countries and less of the respondents (31% to 36% in 2001) expected conflict.
Of those questioned, 41% did not expect any changes in 2003 and 15% believed that 2003 would be a peaceful year.
A recent M-Web cyber poll, in which 3 020 people took part, showed that more than a third (33.7% or 1 020) predicted a war in 2003.
And, 29.8% (899) expected President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe would be toppled from his position.
One out of five (22.5% or 679) said the South African economy would improve and 14% (422) expected the fuel price to rise.