After yesterday’s post on the number of expats who are registered to vote and the debate that ensued, I decided to look at things from another perspective perhaps.
I had dinner with a very good friend of mine last night, let’s call him James. James always has a wonderful perspective on life and not surprisingly he had an interesting argument here too.
James suggests that what we as South Africa (the nation) should be doing is investing in our expatriate community, starting with one simple vote. Giving them that vote and allowing them to have that ownership of possible change and decision making would more than likely win many expats over.
The basic premise is simple: There are resources, foreign currencies and very, very good people who have moved overseas for a variety of reasons. An increasing number are moving over to other countries purely for business purposes. Because they are the best of the best and this might mean that they are pushed to thrive in business by leaving their home country for ten years. Who am I to judge? Good point James.
There are always going to be people who leave for the irrational reasons, for the valid reasons of violence, crime, curroption and expect those problems not to exist where they move to. I am more interested in the expats who are wanting to experience the world, to live life to the fullest and who have the ability to do so. It is hypocritical for me, in today’s world, to think that we cannot be South Africans abroad when the world is globalising and shrinking at such a rapid rate.
I am impressed with this argument and this side of the coin, I think it could possibly be the way to go. I am still disappointed in the small number of expats voting, but maybe it’s time that I took some of the blame for that and started embracing expats in to the culture and community of South Africa?
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Popularity: 7% [?]
April 8th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Hey Nic
Thanks for this follow up post. I was really disappointed and saddened by your post yesterday as I have always found your previous posts to be rational, well thought out and engaging. Yesterday’s, I feel, was not. That said, I can totally understand your frustration and anger at this lower voter registrations from expats. This follow up post has (as lame as this sounds) restored my faith in you.
I think after the out pouring of comments in yesterday’s post, you will begin to gauge how passionate we still are about our country. We too, have been extremely frustrated by the difficulties in applying to register for overseas voting. I am one of the many who didn’t meet all the stringent requirements so cannot vote. In all honesty, I am devastated because I think this is going to be one of the most important events in SA’s history since ’94. I so wanted to be a part of that.
Here’s to hoping that by next elections I will either be living back in Durban or, at least, able to vote from London.
Kind regards,
Mike
April 8th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Nic, I agree with most of what you said. I do not agree though with the fact that we should mostly focus on expats who left for business reasons.
It is well documented that a huge amount of Saffers left because of crime and they needed to provide a safe and secure environment for their family. That is one of man’s greatest duties he has.
We should then ask, how are we ever going to ensure that we as a country are able to sort out the issues that a) are making lots of people thinking of leaving and b) are keeping expats from returning.
If this country dealt ruthlessly with crime, maybe we would see a huge return of expats, something we desperately need right now. And it would ensure that most people thinking of leaving actually do not leave.
My point is, let us not lose sight of the real reasons.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
ST – I agree with what you are saying, the focus should be on making SA a great place to live for everyone, all the time. But I think a great start is to target the thought leaders who are expats, get their buy-in, get their faith back and let other expats see that there is good to be done and join in. If you know what I mean?
April 8th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Always glad to admit I made a few mistakes!
April 8th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I would love my skills to be put to use helping in SA in some way.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:15 am
The point really is not why a person has left SA. The reasons can be many and we are, truly, in no position to judge them. I think the part that is important to remember is that no matter why they left they will always have a tie to their homeland.
It is this tie, this bound and knowledge of our country and the continent that needs to highlighted. This is something that many other cultures/countries have capitalised on. Think of the Taiwanese, the Chinese, the Jews, the Somalians – to name but a few. These people have global networks of business and more. Why? Because they “know” each other – they have shared histories, languages, and more.
This global group of SA expats could be one of SA’s greatest assets. A network, spread throughout the globe!! I mean, come on, we all know there is value in global networks.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Nic,
Embraced or not, your stand will not diminish the importance and self confidence of this SA expatriate. My parents left SA for California, taking us children naturally with them. They left because of the appalling perils from white supremacist thugs and militias as much as from black hoodlums.
The prime reasons that drive millions of South Africans away – even this year 200-300 Thousand will emigrate – is the volatile political situation (a hard-core criminal as president-in-wait only exacerbates the problem!), the appalling security situation and the lack of optimism and confidence in turning around the economic downfall.
The close relationship of the ANC chieftains with the moronic leadership of Zimbabwe, and the incessant urge to support Africa’s poorhouse at the cost of the few South Africans who pay taxes, sends shivers down the spine of the intelligentia of South Africa, correctly interpreted as the plan of the ANC where to take South Africa in future.
I have no idea what you mean by “irrational motives to leave SA,” when there is far greater irrationality in the decision to eventually return to SA.
April 9th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Africa/South Africa has so much potential. If expats get their vote and things change to their liking we could very well see more expats returning!
April 13th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I hate to be a conspiracy theorist but I have just got back from a braai at which 6 South African’s including myself submitted out from via email. Out of the 6 submissions only one appears to have been registered (checked using http://www.elections.org.za).
As a result the entire group of us are disillusioned…who is checking the IEC AND THEIR INCOMPETENCE… I (along with my friends have email log file proof the email was sent with attachment).
I’ve always been overwhelmingly positive about SA but with S*** like this happens it saddens me as just because I am not in the country doesn’t mean I don’t want to participate in making it better!