South Africans show a strong commitment to the idea of freedom of speech. This is according to a survey of 1 004 South Africans conducted by the Social Research Foundation (SRF) in June.

Respondents were asked: "People should be allowed to say whatever they like, so long as they do not incite violence against any individual or group. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?"

Amongst all South Africans 80% agreed somewhat or strongly with the statement as opposed to 19% who disagreed somewhat or strongly.

When the data is broken down along racial lines, 82% of black South Africans, 79% of coloured South Africans, and 71% of white South Africans agreed somewhat or strongly with the statement. Conversely, 18% of black South Africans, 21% of coloured South Africans, and 27% of white South Africans disagreed somewhat or strongly with the statement.

Widespread agreement existed across lines of home language, highest level of education, income, employment status, residential area, and age.