Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The transformation of South African society since 1994 provides a suitable opportunity to investigate moral development amongst undergraduate students in the Western Cape. The Ethic of Care Interview (ECI), a measure based on Carol Gilligan's theory of gender-related moral development and designed by Skoe and Marcia (1991), was administered to 26 undergraduate university students from three universities. The Mann-Whitney distribution-free test was used to analyse the data. From these findings it appears that young South Africans are struggling to make ethical decisions based on care for self and other; however, black females were found to score at significantly higher levels than any other group on the ECI. There were no other significant differences across gender or interview type (conscious and unconscious). Reasons for results obtained are discussed and suggestions for future research made. Finally, the ethic of care is considered in terms of its potential value for the present context. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die transformasie van die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing sedert 1994 bied 'n ideale geleentheid om morele ontwikkeling onder voorgraadse studente in die Wes-Kaap te ondersoek. Die "Ethic of Care" (ECl) onderhoud, 'n meet-instrument gebaseer op Carol Gilligan se teorie van geslagsverwante morele ontwikkeling, en ontwerp deur Skoe en Marcia (1991), is op 26 voorgraadse studente van drie universiteite toegepas. Die Mann-Whitney distribusie-vrye toets is gebruik om die data te analiseer. Van uit hierdie ondersoekbevindings blyk dit dat jeugdige Suid-Afrikaners dit moeilik vind om moreel etiese besluite, rakende dit etiek van omgee, ondervind; maar daar is bevind dat swart vroue beduidend hoër tellings op die ECl behaal het as enige ander groep. Daar was geen beduidende verskille tussen geslagte (mans en vroue) of tipe onderhoud (bewustelik en tydens hipnose) nie. Moontlike redes vir die bevindinge word bespreek en voorstelle vir toekomstige navorsing word gemaak. Ten slotte word die potensiële waarde van die "Ethic of Care" vir die huidige konteks, ondersoek.