Tag Archive for: Relocating

Andrew Stegmann

Relocation Africa Immigration Interview With immVest’s Roderick Cutajar

Lynn Mackenzie, our Immigration Lead, recently had the privilege of interviewing Roderick Cutajar, Co-Founder and CEO of immVest International, which, based in Malta, provides a one-stop shop for immigration by investment advisory services (B2B & B2C) to those aspiring to find a second permanent residency or citizenship. Roderick is also a member of the Investment Migration Council.

To listen to Lynn and Roderick’s conversation about immigration in the current context, click here to view the recording, or view it below.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Roderick for his insights. We hope you enjoy the recording.

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

South Africa: You Can Now Move House Under Level 4 Lock-down Rules, But Only Until 7 June

South Africans can move house again, as long as the country does not go back up to Alert Level 5.

Under regulations published by cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, people and their household effects may move around South Africa on a once-off basis – even across provincial lines.

But there are terms and conditions – including that any move must happen by 7 June.

The rules are intended to allow people to move when they have entered a new lease agreement, either before or during lockdown, or where they have bought new homes and the transfer of the property has already gone through.

In those cases, once-off relocation is allowed. But there are strict limits.

You may only move “household furniture and effects” as required to move into a new home.

For now, at least, there is also a specific window for moves, similar to the just-closed window for those who needed to change provinces to go back to work. That window is open from Thursday, 7 May, and will close again on 7 June if the lockdown level is not relaxed or new rules are not issued before then.

If you are moving between towns, you’ll also need permission from the police. Travel “across provincial, metropolitan or district boundaries” require a permit issued by a station commander, Dlamini-Zuma said.

You need to have that permit, plus a signed lease or transfer documents to hand during travel.

(Compiled by Phillip de Wet).

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

Ursula Vance, our Operations Manager, is Relocating

After an incredible 9 years with the Relocation Africa Group, Ursula Vance, our Operations Manager has decided it is time to return to her home – Ireland.

As of 1st March 2020 the areas of responsibility have been reallocated, as Relocation Africa has a new organogram chart (below), which means we no longer have an Operations Manager.  We are sad to lose Ursula and we wish her well in her endeavors in Ireland, but we know we have a lifelong friend.

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

How Many Skilled Professionals Are Leaving South Africa Every Day?

There has been a major increase in skilled professionals leaving the country as South Africa faces continued uncertainty.

Speaking to eNCA, Sable International’s Andrew Rissik said that people are leaving for many reasons – with two of the biggest reasons being economic uncertainty and crime.

“We are looking at around 25,000 skilled people leaving South Africa each year, with around 1,000 – 2,000 of these people also being very wealthy people who are able to buy their way into other countries.

“These are potentially very high-quality taxpayers that South Africa is losing,” said Rissik.

This averages out to around 68 skilled people, and between two and five ultra-wealthy South Africans, leaving the country every day.

“What we see is that a lot of people with young children tend to start getting pulled back to South Africa because of family links.

“Although we have seen this (trend) slow compared to the past decade because of the economic situation in South Africa as we know it – it’s really pretty negative at the moment.”

Rissik added that as long as these ‘push factors’ are present, people will continue to leave.

Popular destinations

The Department of Home Affairs does not keep record of South Africans who emigrate permanently; however, receiver countries do keep track of immigrants, which gives an indication of how many people are actually leaving.

This data shows that the UK is still the most popular choice for South African immigrants, while a growing number are also choosing to settle in Australia and New Zealand.

  1. New Zealand: The latest data from Stats NZ shows that there has been a sharp rise in South African migrants, with 8,200 people moving to the country between April 2018 and April 2019;
  2. Australia: The latest immigration data from Australia shows that a total of 5,397 South Africans moved in 2016/17 time period and 2,907 South Africans over the 2017/2018 period;
  3. UK: At the beginning of January, statistics provided to City Press by UK’s Office for National Statistics showed that approximately 7,300 people emigrated from South Africa to the UK in 2017

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: Ross Parmly [1], [2].