About half of South Africa\u2019s top earners and university graduates are considering emigration as citizens lose faith in the country\u2019s future, the Social Research Foundation said, citing a survey it conducted.<\/p>\n
Out of 3,204 registered voters the Johannesburg-based research group surveyed in July, 53% of university graduates and 43% of those who earned more than R20,000 ($1,138) a month may leave the country, according to the findings. Overall, 23% of those surveyed said they may look to live in another country.<\/p>\n
Confidence in South Africa\u2019s future has fallen after more than a decade when average economic growth failed to match the increase in population, meaning the country\u2019s citizens have been getting poorer. The country has been wracked by corruption scandals in recent years and regular power outages since 2014. More than 350 people died in a spate of looting and arson in July 2021.<\/p>\n
The number of those considering emigration \u201crises with social and economic status,\u201d the SRF said in a statement accompanying the survey results on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople between the ages of 25 and 40 are the most likely age groups to be considering emigration,\u201d according to the foundation. \u201cThe data is consistent with the foundation\u2019s past findings on confidence in South Africa\u2019s future.\u201d<\/p>\n
If an increasing number of South Africa\u2019s richest people leave the country, the number of those paying tax, which supports welfare payments to almost a third of South Africans and other government services, will plunge, the SRF said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Africa is vulnerable to surrendering near half of its top skills base and income earners, and by extension much of its remaining tax base,\u201d the SRF said.<\/p>\n
The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 1.7 percentage points.<\/p>\n