It seems as though SA is not the only nation “struggling” with its citizens flying to other countries and not returning.
According to a BBC report* approximately 385 000 people left the UK over that past year. Of those 385 000, 196,000 were British citizens while 189,000 were “long-term migrants” who had been living in the UK for more than a year.
This is really interesting to me. I love travelling and I admire people who can travel on an ongoing basis because it is a secret desire of mine – drop everything and everyone and just travel – to do so.
With that said, my question is as follows: Is immigration an SA trend recently or is the world suffering from a growing of consciousness?
I am really of the mind that the world is a smaller place, as many people that have left SA in the last ten years have probably also realised. There have also been other people leaving many other nations in search of something. Not greener pastures, not bluer skies, just that something that they think they need.
It has also fast become a name, shame and blame contest here in SA. I think that many people (sometimes myself included) forget how small the world is and forget that some peopler (read: many people) want to experience the world outside of their own country.
Countries for me are like religion, you are born in to one, you do not choose it. But why not? Why not just choose one, go over, get a visa, becoem a citizen and stay? I think there are many arguments relating to this topic and exactly why we need people to stay but I don’t want to get in to them.
All I am saying is that as someone who is passionately and sometimes ignorantly patriotic I need to step back and remember that the world is a smaller place that I think it is. And people have the right to travel, to come, to go, to leave or stay and they probably will choose to do so if they are given the choice.
*Article via Paul from Chillibean.
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Popularity: 11% [?]
August 24th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
The Netherlands have had a ‘drain’ for the last couple of years as well (for obvious reasons):
http://statline.cbs.nl/statweb/table.asp?pa=37943ned&D1=0-4
And some of them even ended up in the R(ocking) SA
August 25th, 2007 at 8:38 am
A country is like a hotel. You pay to stay (taxes) and you expect a certain level of services (Policing, education, health, roads, water, etc) in return. When the cost of staying is no longer matched by the level of service, it is time to find a new hotel, one that provides you with what you want at a reasonable price.
However this does not change who you are. You continue to support the team, eg your country of origin, that you have traditionally but when they are no longer providing the satisfaction of watching them, ie winning, then you might change allegiance – but that is a very personal decision.
On a personal level I am South African to the core. I no longer live in SA and cry about the negative and applaud the positive. I would wish for nothing more than a safe prosperous country. At present my hotel is not as expensive for the level service I get and so I’ll stay where I am for now. But the team that I’m supporting remains the same.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:24 am
I’ve lived out of SA for almost two years now. I am still a South African, and I’ll be back at the end of the year. I am braced for the negative response from people, but I would do it again in a heart beat. Yes, I’ve been achingly homesick all of the time, and being away has made me acutely aware of all the benefits we enjoy at home, but travelling makes you more experienced, knowledgable and tolerant.
just my two cents
p.s. cant wait to come home in December!
March 19th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
South africa is a country ruled by a bunch of idiots / monkeys.
South africa is really called Arsezania these days.
Read our blog and you will see we are correct when we say south africa is fucked!
http://southafricasucks.blogspot.com/
March 19th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Ah, the SA Sucks guys. I’ve been waiting a long time for you all to reach this blog and lay your two cents down on the table. Thanks for the comment. Keep up the negative it’s aging you quickly and eating you slowly!
Keep well.
Signed,
SA ROCKS
October 15th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I’m leaving SA in 46 days time – its the “have skills will travel” reason and being a true global knowledge worker. At this point in time I can offer my two young children a safer place to live in Australia (they have been hijacked twice!). My husband and I have skills in demand so we are going to a place that welcomes us. We love the country and wish everyone here the best. In time I am sure we will return but for now we are off to a different space …
Gills last blog post..Social involvement – the numbers to call to get involved
October 15th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Hi Gill,
Thank you for your comment. I wish you all the luck in the world in your move. You clearly have the right reasons for leaving and therefore think you are making the best decision for you and your family.
Goodluck and come back sometime!
May 12th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Thanks for this info, very useful for me
May 15th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
On the website http://ecles.jimdo.com there is a portion of a book written in the apartheid era, name “Soutie”.Were we really like that 15 years ago?
May 19th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
l left SA in the 70s, Apartheid and the way SA was degenerating into a police state was my reason then. well that was a long time ago and l have fully integrated into Scottish society, my kids passed through school and have their own(Scottish) partners and my first grand-daughter born here, my roots are so deep in this country that it has become my home. SA news has become irrelevant because l understand very little of whats going on currently, l do however allow myself one little luxury, and that is to support, along with my family, any sporting event that has either a South African individual or team competing. l have introduced my neighbours to the art of braai(a local butcher sells boerewors) and we are able to get Castle Lager at Sainsburys, so in a small way we have brought the “Springbok” with us.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Nic.
You do choose your topics well – Name, shame and blame SA expats?
What are you trying to say mate?
One day when you have a wife and children your priorities may change. You may want to look for safety for them.
As you have an out already (EU Passport) is seems easy for you to blame expats.
Take care mate and keep up the propaganda (as it just alienates expats more – maybe you secretly want us to enjoy our save life outside za)!!
August 15th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
dude, let’s debate.
April 14th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
i always love to read your blogs…I prefer reading them than News24..Keep up the good work
July 25th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
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February 19th, 2012 at 1:24 pm
Only an idiot would want to ostracize those who left this ever deteriorating country. Unfortunately, I’m too old to leave, other wise I’d be out in a heartbeat. The criminal ANC government has poisoned the minds of the masses against the europeans, and it is those same europeans that keep this country afloat. So, given anough time, we will leave, and this country will sink into the sewer that is the rest of Africa. Hello Zim #2.