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A national survey of nearly 5 000 adults indicates that Government policy on "moral" issues is out of sync with the opinions of the electorate. Public opinion gauged by the HSRC’s 2003 South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) of nearly 5 000 adults (aged 16 and older) indicates that most South Africans oppose abortion and same-sex adult sexual relationships, and support capital punishment On abortion, the results showed that: More than half (56%) of South African adults think that abortion is “always wrong” in the event of it being discovered that there is a strong chance of serious defect in the unborn child. Only 21% think that it is “not wrong at all”. Almost two-thirds (64%) of black Africans oppose birth defect-related abortion, a much higher proportion than among the other races (coloured 41%; Indian 37%; white 23%). Opposition to abortion if the family concerned has a low income and cannot afford more children is even higher. Seven out of ten (70%) think it is “always wrong” under such circumstances. Only one in ten (10%) think that it is “not wrong at all”. More than three-quarters (75%) of respondents in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo think that it is “always wrong”. Whereas almost three-quarters (74%) of black Africans think that abortion is always wrong under such circumstances, this is the case with 59% of Indians and 57% of whites and coloureds.
On death penalty, the survey showed that: 50% of South African adults (aged 16 and older) “strongly agree” and a further 25% “agree” that capital punishment should be imposed on someone convicted of murder. In contrast 7% “strongly disagree”, 11% “disagree”, 5% are neutral on the issue and 2% do not know. More females (78%) than males (72%) “strongly agree” or “agree” with the death penalty, as do more of those aged 35 and older (79%) than those in the below 35 age group (72%). “Agreement” or “strong agreement” ranges from 72% among black Africans and 76% among coloureds to 86% among Indians and 92% among whites. Pro-death penalty sentiment is strongest in urban formal areas (78%) and in the Western Cape (81%), Eastern Cape (80%) and Gauteng (78%).
Regarding sexual relations between adults of the same gender: More than three-quarters (78%) of adult South Africans feel that sexual relations between two adults of the same gender are “always wrong” with disapproval levels of 64% among coloureds, 70% among whites, 76% among Indians and 81% among black Africans. Geographically, 90% of Limpopo residents and 88% of Eastern Cape residents hold this view, whereas this is the case among only 64% in the Free State and 68% in the Western Cape. One in twelve (8%) of urban formal residents think that same-gender sexual relationships are “not wrong at all”, this being less so among urban informal dwellers (5%), those in tribal areas (5%) or rural formal areas (2%).
On the question whether South Africans are apathetic about their beliefs or highly tolerant of diverse opinions and behaviour, Research Director Dr Stephen Rule concludes that traditionalism is strongest among the religious, black African, married, pre-matriculation sector of the population, while the “progressives” are more likely to be found in the urban areas where respondents have at least a matriculation qualification, are less religious and unmarried. Even among those South Africans who consider the “progressive” aspects to be “wrong”, however, this rarely results in activism and has a minimal influence on voting behaviour. A book containing the full results of the SASAS Survey will appear early next year. Read the full article.
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