Most smokers do not enjoy smoking, according to a survey conducted by a company that makes products to help people break the habit.
The third annual Nicorette South African Smoking Survey included 14,308 men and women across all education levels, income groups and races, in all nine provinces. It was released on Thursday.
A total of 7761 surveys were completed, and 6547 partially completed.
When asked whether they enjoyed smoking, 62 percent of men and 68 percent of women indicated that they did not.
Three-quarters of smokers had tried to give up in the past 12 months, but only a third had succeeded.
For most smokers, the strongest motivation for quitting was health concerns.
Only 17 percent of men and women said higher tobacco taxes or expensive cigarettes would motivate them to stop. - Sapa