Most South Africans do not define themselves according to the idea of “Ubuntu”. This is according to a survey conducted by the Social Research Foundation in June this year.

Participants were given two statements and asked which statement they agreed with. The statements were: “I believe we are who we are because of other people”

OR

“I believe I am who I am because of the personal choices I have made, despite what other people think”

Amongst all South Africans 38% agreed with the first statement somewhat or strongly and 57% agreed with the second statement somewhat or strongly.

Some 46% of black South Africans agreed with the first statement somewhat or strongly, while 51% agreed with the second statement somewhat or strongly.

This was compared to 14% of coloured South Africans that agreed with the first statement, with 83% agreeing with the second statement. Numbers were similar amongst white South Africans, with 10% agreeing with the first statement and 81% agreeing with the second statement.