Black females are the unhappiest people in South Africa due to low income and unachievable life goals, while white men are the happiest for contrary reasons, according to a survey result released in Johannesburg Sunday.  

On a scale of zero, which represents desperately unhappy, to 100 standing for deliciously happy, African females put their happiness level at an average of 73 while white men scored 86.

The result was contrary to a popular belief about whining whites since the end of apartheid in South Africa 10 years ago, but might not be a surprise to black community, found Research Surveys, a market research firm.

The poll among some 3,500 South Africans, which looked at factors including wealth, health and nutrition, found that an overwhelming majority of white males were fit, healthy, full of energy, and very satisfied with their lives and their achievements.

"There is quite a lot of focus on whining whites. This research is saying to us that the percentage of whining whites is actually quite low," Neil Higgs of Research Surveys was quoted as saying by local newspaper Sunday Times.

"The majority of white people in this country are incredibly happy to be here. They have a chance to achieve things which they might not have achieved elsewhere," he said.

According to the survey, black females' low happiness score can be attributed to the difficulties they have in achieving their goals.

"We discovered that black females who live in squatter camps in urban areas and in rural farm quarters have the lowest levels of well-being in the country," Higgs said. "Many black females are trapped. They feel they can't achieve their dreams."

"Even after apartheid, there is no change for us. Most of the work we get is domestic work," said Gugu Gumede, an unemployed mother.

Metering technician Thembi Ngubane said the research reflected a long-standing issue.

"White males are still on top. They have power and experience, and color still counts. After 1994, some black women did get empowered but white males put them in jobs and indirectly dragged them down. It's window-dressing," he said.

African men scored 74, colored males and females both scored 74 while Indian men scored 79 and Indian women 82. At least 81 percent of white females are happy, in contrast to 74 percent of colored males and 71 percent of colored females.

Higgs pointed out that among most race groups, men were slightly happier than women. "That's because we are still very much a male-dominated society," he said.

With an average score of 76, South Africans are generally happy, Higgs said, adding that money accounted for only part of the happiness factor.

"Happiness is connected to money among poor people but once you hit about 8,000-rand-a-month (about US$1,230) household income, then it's not connected to money anymore. It becomes connected to being respected in your community, achieving your ambitions and being satisfied with what you have already achieved in life," he said.

A United Nations Development Program report said last month that South Africans living below the poverty line of 354 rand (US$52) a month still totaled almost half of the total population and stood at 21.9 million people.

The report ranked South Africa as one of the most unequal societies in the world, pointing out that a white household spends an average of six times more than an African household.

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2004)