Tag Archive for: Moving to South Africa

Andrew Stegmann

What Makes South Africa Perfect as a Relocation Destination?

This guest article was written by Howard Baker.

South Africa is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and a popular choice for many expats. It is therefore not surprising to see people from other countries in South Africa. 

If you ask anybody living there why it’s such a great idea to relocate, they would rattle off a long list of pros without breaking sweat or skipping a beat. 

This is because the country’s aesthetic appeal is so great that a lot of visitors end up staying longer than they intended, and some even settle permanently. 

Some of the attractions that can be found in South Africa are unique to the country and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. 

If you’re looking for convincing perks to help you make up your mind on whether to move or not, here are some reasons.

The Landscape 

South Africa offers a highly diverse landscape. It is, therefore, no wonder that it is referred to as “A World in One Country” now and again. 

Given that the country boasts of 2,500 kilometers of coastline that stretches all the way from Namibia and the Atlantic Ocean, goes around Cape Agulhas, precisely the tip of Africa where it becomes the Indian Ocean and then further up to where Mozambique’s border is found, it does deserve to be called that. 

There is the Kalahari Desert just on the borders of Botswana and Namibia where temperatures often go as high as 40 C (105 F). 

In contrast, just in the middle of the country, you would find the Drakensberg which is an impressive range of mountains that tower at about 3,500 meters and are usually covered in snow. 

The landscape also features a rolling green hills, as well as lush farmland, amongst others. 

People 

South Africans are known world-round for their friendliness and this is perhaps one of the most striking things you would notice on your arrival.  Expect to be welcomed warmly with arms wide open. 

Furthermore, they would bring you up to date on what living in South Africa is like, the pluses and the minuses, the pros and the cons. Just like any other country, you would have to be security-conscious here as well. 

The country overall is peaceful, however crime is a concern, so you should remain vigilant and aware at all times.

The Lifestyle 

Whether you are visiting or planning to relocate to South Africa, one guarantee that is unshakeable is the fact that the lifestyle there is amazing. 

Housing is of world-class standard and if you’re relocating, and while private education may be expensive, the quality is excellent. 

Since South Africa houses so many different nationalities, you can easily deduce that the culture would be diverse. The various cultures can be found in the styles of housing, cuisine, events, and traditions.

South Africans are known for maximizing their leisure time which is often spent working out, socializing with friends and family, spending time outdoors, as well as other pleasurable activities. 

The people are gracious hosts and if you get an invite for Sunday lunchtime braai, rest assured that you might be staying well into the evening. 

Nature 

If you’re moving from a very busy city where your constant sights were buildings and people with little or no nature, South Africa offers a major change. Seeing wildlife up close is definitely one bit that anyone moving to South Africa looks forward to. There are many national parks and nature reserves to visit, within close proximity to major cities.

The country boasts of several game parks with the most popular being the Kruger National Park. You can check out both government-owned and private parks, with the promise of hospitality that South Africa is so well-known for. 

Similarly, the flora is not left out and is very appealing to the eye. With up to 22,000 indigenous plants from about 230 different families, South Africa boasts of being home to 10% of flowering species in the world.

If you want to see some particular beautiful and well-kept indigenous flowers, then you should pay a visit to the Western Cape, which usually sees a lot of visitors coming to check out the sights. 

The Weather 

The weather in South Africa is just amazing!  The country had a great climate with the sun shining through in spring, summer, autumn and winter. 

Sometimes, temperatures go as high as 37 C (100 F) during the day in certain places, however, does come significantly down at night.

Eastern Cape and the KwaZulu-Natal Midland sometimes experience cold winter nights, however, by morning, the temperature will have risen considerably. 

For living in South Africa in the winter, you might be needing some extra clothing layers, however snow is not a challenge anywhere. 

Slower Pace

The pace of living is very much lower than most cities in the world. This does not however imply that it is altogether slow. 

Durban is considered to be the slowest in terms of pace of life, followed by Cape Town, and then Johannesburg as the most busy. However, Cape Town has the worst traffic.

In South Africa, you would need to be very patient particularly when it comes to how time is regarded there.

The Food 

If you’re a fan of great food and exquisite wines, South Africa offers only the best. 

The legendary status of South African wines is common knowledge and there are several wonderful restaurants to explore. 

Some restaurants in Johannesburg and the Cape would definitely boast about Michelin stars if stars were awarded in Africa. 

Indigenous foods such as boerewors, bunny chow, Chakalaka, and chutney are also worth having a taste of, and you might just find yourself falling in love with them. 

The Bottom Line 

Learning facts about Africa is a great way to start your education if you intend to relocate. You would adjust better and not feel like a stranger for so long. 

Furthermore, you’re bound to have an incredible time, so, just relax and go with the flow.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

Home Affairs Gazettes New, Tougher Laws for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has gazetted the Refugees Amendment Act, which came into effect from 1 January.

The amended act has new rules for refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa.

Speaking to Clement Manyathela on the Xolani Gwala Show, Dr Motsoaledi explains the new rules in the act. “We have added more exclusions on when can you get exclude for applying for asylum. In the new act we expel you if you commit fraud because when you defraud documents, you destroy the sovereignty of the country and undermine everything Parliament has done”, Motsoaedi said.

Motsoaledi says changes to the laws are much broader than what has been covered in the media. He explains that the act includes several updated definitions, including what it means to classify as a dependent.

According to Motsaoledi, applicants will be excluded if:

  • They have been involved in Schedule 2 crimes
  • They have fraudulent documentation
  • They were involved in war crimes
  • They enjoy protections from another country

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

DHA’s Aaron Motsoaledi: Children of Immigrants Must be in School

Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi said every child needs to go to school.

He said when he had asked the Department of Basic Education why immigrant children were barred from school, he had been told the department was scared of Home Affairs inspectors. “That can’t happen in any modern democracy. I told them Home Affairs inspectors must not visit any schools unless there is a crime committed that needs Home Affairs. It’s more dangerous to have a child who is not in school.”

“Send them to school … We’ll look at the documentation later.”

He was speaking to GroundUp after briefing a joint meeting of the portfolio committees on Home Affairs and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs recently.

Motsoaledi told GroundUp that the three special permits which were issued to legalize the status of nationals from Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Angolans already living in South Africa, will be renewed.

“The Lesotho permit is expiring in December. I am already in the process of renewing it,” said Motsoaledi. “We can’t stop those special permits if the problems that led to those special permits are not yet resolved.

“Unfortunately the Zimbabwean permit was for four years and the situation never became normal in those four years. We will renew, but we can’t automatically as the department. We have got to discuss with the cabinet.”

“The issue of migration is not purely a problem of Home Affairs as the mayor of Johannesburg would like people to believe,” said Motsoaledi. “It talks to many government departments because it talks to economy; it talks to job creation; it talks to inequality; it talks to unemployment – all those issues cannot be resolved by one department which is called Home Affairs.”

“We have accepted long ago that our borders are porous. We have presented to Parliament before that we are going to spruce up the Border Management Authority. We want to bring that forward,” he said.

In 2009, the South African government introduced a Dispensation of Zimbabwean Permit (DZP) to legalize the many Zimbabweans already inside the country because of the political and socio-economic situation in Zimbabwe. In 2014, the DZP was renewed and renamed ZSP (Zimbabwean Special Permit), which expired in December 2017. The ZSP was replaced with the ZEP (Zimbabwe Exemption Permit), which will expire in 2021.

The ZEP entitles the holder to study or conduct employment, but does not entitle the holder to the right to apply for permanent residence, irrespective of the period of stay in South Africa.

A similar dispensation was extended to nationals from Lesotho and Angola.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

Foreign Migrant Influx Straining Gauteng’s Resources: Government Report

The problem is attributed to porous borders where illegal migrants cross, and they then place huge strain on services and infrastructure.

A government report has suggested that beside a battle with limited resources, an influx of international migrants has put further strain on Gauteng’s services.

The report found that Gauteng was not only saddled with having to accommodate internal migrants from the rest of the country, but it was getting overwhelmed by an influx of international migrants who have to depend on its health and education resources.26

The scathing report is a joint investigation by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) into the impact of migration on service delivery in Gauteng.

The probe found that 47% of international migrants settled in Johannesburg without valid documentation and placed a strain on its limited resources.

Gauteng’s population is known to increase at the highest rate in the country due to an influx of migrants from other provinces and foreign immigrants into urban areas including squatter camps.

The contents of the investigation were revealed by Charity Moyo, spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng premier candidate Solly Msimanga’s campaign.

“This is placing a huge strain on the city’s infrastructure, as well as services such as education and healthcare,” Moyo said.

She said the influx of foreign migrants resulted in the province’s schools struggling to absorb the increasing number of applicants yearly.

Moyo further revealed that Gauteng needed approximately 142 new schools to deal with the current demand – a number which does not take into consideration the yearly influx of new students into the province.

The report, which followed a joint visit by a group from the two institutions, found that Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital was the worst affected by the situation.

The problem was attributed to the porous borders where illegal migrants crossed and when they fell ill inside the country, they became a burden on the Gauteng health system – which was already crippled.

Moyo said uncontrolled immigration was putting a strain on Gauteng resources like the hospital, because migrants were unable to pay for their bills while the healthcare facilities were not enough to cater for additional patients.

“The hospital is forced to house undocumented foreign patients at a cost of R4 500 a day.

“Most of these patients are also unable to pay their outstanding bills.

“In the 2017/18 financial year, the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital had to write off about R1 billion due to unsettled debt,” Moyo said.

“It is clear that South Africa can ill afford not to secure its borders as uncontrolled immigration is violating the rights of the ordinary residents of this province who have to compete for services.

“This problem has been compounded by the widespread corruption within the department of home affairs which has led to an immigration system failure.”

Moyo accused the ANC government of being incapable of ensuring law and order, rooting out corruption and managing the real problems that Gauteng faced, instead of only caring about enriching themselves.

“This is not what we were promised. We need leadership and change capable of ensuring equal access to opportunities for all South Africans,” Moyo said.

“The DA will fight corruption, fix the police force to be honest and professional, create fair access to real and long-term jobs, secure our borders and speed up the delivery of basic services.”

The permanent delegates of the NCOP and members of the provincial legislature visited service delivery sites in Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Tshwane and the West Rand district municipality from September 17 to 21.

The visits were in preparation for the upcoming “Taking Parliament to the People” programme expected to take place in November and were held under the theme “Impact of migration – deepening cooperative governance for accelerated service delivery and development”.

The NCOP said the information acquired during the preliminary visits and public meetings would be compiled and submitted to the executives in all three spheres of government for their interventions prior to the parliamentary session due in Gauteng in November.

A statement from parliament read: “This is one of the flagship programmes of the legislatures through which they exercise oversight on the executive, while also promoting citizen participation in governance.”

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: Eric Naki via The Citizen [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].