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Children’s futures lie abroad, say most parents

Linda Ensor Parliamentary Correspondent ensorl@businesslive.co.za

The majority of SA parents across political party lines and income levels want their children to study, live and work abroad, reflecting perhaps their gloomy outlook for SA’s future prospects.

Anecdotal reports suggest there is an exodus of young people from the country, which has been bedevilled by high levels of unemployment and crime, a sluggish economy and persistent load-shedding.

In 2022 the Social Research Foundation, a think-tank focusing on public policy issues and the promotion of democracy, conducted a telephonic survey on what South Africans want for their children. The randomly selected and representative sample consisted of 3,200 registered voters with a national margin of error of 1.7%.

Two-thirds of registered voters would prefer their children to live and work abroad and just over three-quarters of registered voters would prefer their children to study abroad, the survey found. Variances according to income level and party affiliation were not profound.

POLITICAL PARTIES

A total of 89% of those in the R5,000-R8,000 a month income bracket said they would prefer their children to live and work abroad and 68% in the R20,000 and over bracket.

With regard to political parties, 65% of ANC members said they would prefer their children to live and work abroad.

The percentages for other parties were 74% for DA members, 58% for EFF, 72% for Freedom Front Plus and 78% for ActionSA members.

“The data lends itself to the conclusion that voters believe there to be more opportunities and better education available for their children overseas,” the foundation said.

“The results can be reasonably extrapolated to SA adults broadly,” said the foundation.

EMIGRATION

A survey by the foundation in July last year found that about half of SA’s top earners and university graduates are considering emigration as citizens lose faith in the country ’ s future.

Out of 3,204 registered voters the research group surveyed in July, 53% of university graduates and 43% of those who earned more than R20,000 a month said they may leave the country, according to the findings. Overall, 23% of those surveyed said they may look at living in another country.

The survey found the number of those considering emigration rises with social and economic status. “People between the ages of 25 and 40 are the most likely age groups to be considering emigration.”

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2023-02-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

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