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The majority of South Africans (75%) are of the opinion that South Africa should maintain a strong national defence force. There is currently also a greater degree of certainty among South Africans about the need for a strong defence force than two years ago. In a joint national survey of public opinion on security issues conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in 1995, 13% of the respondents indicated that they were not certain whether South Africa needed a strong defence force. In a similar survey conducted in October 1996 only 8% indicated that they were not sure. In the 1996 HSRC/ISS study personal interviews were conducted nationwide with 2?200 South African residents of 18?years and older. All nine provinces were included in the survey, and much care was taken to include both rural and urban areas, as well as people from all socio-economic backgrounds. The political parties mostly in favour of maintaining a strong defence force were the National Party and the Freedom Front, both at 83%, followed by the DP (78%), the ANC (75%), the IFP (74%) and the PAC (71%). Respondents indicated the reasons for maintaining a strong defence force as ?to always be prepared? (35%), ?to defeat an enemy attack? (26%), ?to support the police? (14%), "to counter an internal uprising" (11%), "to create jobs" (10%) and "to assist in international peacekeeping (3%). Regarding the question as to what kind of help the SANDF should provide to neighbouring countries, the results indicate that respondents were mostly in support of assistance to secure the country?s borders (72%) and to maintain internal stability (67%).
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