Awareness of the Constitution

This survey interviewed respondents aged 16 years and older to measure the awareness and perceptions of the Constitution and human rights. About 82,6% of the population aged 16 and older have heard about the Constitution, while 70,7% of the population think that the Constitution protects their rights. Less than half the population (48%) think that the Constitution protects the rights of others more than theirs.

Individual Perception of Democracy

An estimated 66% of those aged 16 years and older believe that democracy allows them to have some say in what government does. The highest proportions are observed in those who have post school level of education, and those residing in KwaZulu-Natal, resides in metro and urban areas. About 66% of those aged 16 years and older believe that democracy allows them to have some influence in politics. The highest proportions are observed in those who have post school level of education, and those residing in Mpumalanga, reside in metros and urban areas.

Individual experience of Discrimination

Racial discrimination is the most experienced type of discrimination by those aged 16 years and older followed by poverty or wealth status. An estimated 4,8% of the population experienced racial discrimination in the past 12 months. About 12,5% of the white population group indicated they experienced discrimination based on race. Those living in Western Cape (8,1%) experienced racial discrimination more than those in other provinces.

 An estimated 2,7% of those aged 16 years and older experienced discrimination based on poverty or wealth status. Males (2,9%) experienced this type of discrimination more than females, those aged 65 years and older (3,2%) followed by those aged 15 to 34 years (3,0%) experienced it more than the other age groups, those living in non-metros (2,9%) and rural (3,8%) areas have the highest proportion of individuals who experienced discrimination or harassment based on poverty or wealth status.

Individual experience of Disputes

An estimated 21% of the population aged 16 years and older experienced one or more disputes/problems during the past two years. Poor service from government and business was the most experienced dispute in the past two years. Almost 4% of the individuals experienced disputes or problems related to conflict with neighbours and 2,9% experienced disputes or problems related to corruption, bribes or nepotism. The top 10 disputes are the same for males and females, except for ‘corruption or bribery or nepotism by government officials’ which is in the top ten disputes experienced by females and not in males, while ‘unpaid debt by family or relatives’ is in the top ten disputes experienced by males but not in the top ten for females. The ranking is different but both females and males ranked poor service by government as the top recent dispute experienced.

Individuals mostly (29%) sought help from family and friends to assist with resolving their most recent dispute. The most common reason for not seeking help from any source was “it would only waste time, or it would be useless anyway” followed by “did not know what to do or where to go” to seek help with a dispute /problem. There is an increase in proportions of those who did not seek help due to being afraid that it would result in violence, or it would create problems for their family. About 54% of those aged 16 years and older experienced stress, ill-health, or injury due to disputes, while 23% experienced financial loss due to disputes.