More fed-up black South Africans want to emigrate to escape the crime and economic pressure on jobs in South Africa.
The number seriously considering emigration has shot up by 20 percent since 2000, a researcher revealed on Thursday.
"We are now seeing a tipping point for an exodus, but this time across the board in terms of race," said Future Fact researcher Debbie Milne at a conference in Johannesburg.
"It is motivated more by the sense of cynicism than real violent political turmoil."
More than one in three South Africans now say they are seriously considering leaving, as opposed to 18 percent in 2000, according to the survey conducted in the second half of last year among 2 500 adults.
The surprise was that the increase was now reflected across all races.
In 2000, 22 percent of whites, 18 percent of blacks, 12 percent of coloureds and 26 percent of Indians said they were considering emigration.
But in 2007, sentiments had changed with 41 percent of whites, 38 percent of blacks, 42percent of coloureds and 30percent of Indians thinking of leaving the country.
"It does show the sense of dissatisfaction," said Milne.
"South Africa as a society has a number of unhappy people who feel helpless and hopeless about their future. Many social ills contribute to an exodus mentality among our citizens."
High crime rates and job security were deciding factors for one coloured Eastern Cape couple in the process of emigrating to Australia.
The couple, who now live in Port Elizabeth, said they had had enough of horror crimes and feared their two toddler girls would be exposed to the country's brutalities.
Both professionals, they said that although their roots were in South Africa, it was not worth dying over patriotism. One, a 32-year-old teacher, said: ?Our nanny was robbed and mugged just a few houses away. They took her cellphone and punched her a few times. The thugs were arrested, but released the following day and nothing has come of the case."
Being hijacked was one of her worst fears. "Every time I drive around with my daughters, I double check to ensure that everything is locked. I think of all these hijackings and rapes ... I?m not being paranoid, but this is reality," she said.
