South African migrants move home as economy improves
November 18 2009 by Liam Clifford
South African workers abandoning the UK as jobs become more scarce.
It seems in
some ways South Africa is benefitting from the global recession, with many of
its expatriate citizens returning to live in South Africa as their adopted
countries struggle.
Large numbers of South Africans chose to try living
in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and elsewhere from the early 90s up
through the last decade. Many moved abroad on working holiday visas and ended up
staying for years. However, for some of these people, South Africa has regained
its attractiveness as a place to live. Foreigners are also discovering this for
themselves and are seeking South African visas to enable them to move to the
country and enjoy its lifestyle features.
"What the global financial
crisis has done is accelerate the thought process around coming home, and to act
as a catalyst," says Martine Schaffer, who is the managing director of a Cape
Town not-for-profit organisation called Homecoming Revolution.
As the
recession makes finding work in the UK, Australia and other commonwealth
countries more difficult, an increasing number of South Africans find themselves
drawn to moving home.
Schaffer says she receives up to 60 new enquires
each month for new South African visas, which is an increase of 20 per cent over the past year.
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