This is the finding of a survey conducted by consumer insights company Pondering Panda, which polled 2888 respondents between the ages of 18 and 34, across South Africa. 47% of respondents felt violent strikes were the only way to get bosses to listen. In contrast, 26% felt violent strikes were against the law, and that strikers should be arrested. 21% felt violent strikes were a waste of time because the strikers were not better off afterwards. 6% were unable to decide.
The survey also showed that almost 9 in 10 young South Africans (87%) recognised that violent strikes affect food and petrol prices, so everybody suffers as a result. This opinion was consistent across all demographic groups.
The attitude towards violent strikes varied significantly by race. 53% of young black South Africans felt violent strikes were the only way to get bosses to listen. In contrast, only 11% of young whites, 35% of coloureds and 25% of Indians felt this way. White respondents were much more likely than blacks to feel that violent strikes were against the law, and that strikers should be arrested. 53% of whites felt this way, compared to 22% of blacks, 34% of coloureds and 35% of Indians.
Opinions also differed by gender. Men were more likely to feel that violent strikes were the only way to get bosses to listen. 52% of men felt this way, compared to 43% of women. In contrast, women were more likely to feel that violent strikes were a waste of time as the strikers were not better off afterwards. 26% of women felt this way, compared to just 16% of men.
The provinces most likely to think violent strikes were the only way to get bosses to listen were the Eastern Cape (52%), Kwa-Zulu Natal (51%) and the Northern Cape (51%).
“The belief held by 1 in 2 young South Africans that violent strikes are the only way to get bosses attention is concerning,” said Shirley Wakefield of Pondering Panda.” That so many of our youth feel that violence can be justified when it comes to airing grievances is sure to spill over into the political arena. What makes this all the more concerning is that young people feel this way, even while recognising that everybody pays a price for violent strikes, not just the strikers themselves. It would appear that they feel that this price is justifiable. “
Responses to the survey were weighted to be nationally representative of age, gender and race. Pondering Panda conducts more interviews than any other market research company in Africa.
