An estimated 20,000 British citizens settled in SA in 2007. Why are they coming? Isn't SA a horrible place?

Question

In recent years there have been high numbers of British expats relocating to South Africa. Among the British expat population, South Africa ranks as the 6th most popular destination and is ranked as the top destination amongst British retirees and pensioners.

By 2005, an estimated 212 000 British citizens were residing in South Africa. Since 2003, the numbers of British expats coming to South Africa has risen by 50%. An estimated 20000 British expats moved to South Africa in 2007. The reasons cited by many expats are South Africa's family values, the weather and a better quality of life

sources;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whites_in_South_Africa

Answer 1

... so that they avoid jet-lag when they fly home to visit their relatives in the UK...

Answer 2

Well someone has to keep the balance!

All the South Africans and Zimbabweans are coming over to the UK so the Brits take their place..lol An interesting fact is that more black Zimbabweans come over to the UK than white Zimbabweans do.

Answer 3

There is a very simple reason behind the story.

1) SA is one of the most beautifully country's in the world.

2) We have great weather.

3) A house in London costs 200000-1000000 pounds if you sell it then you can have a very nice live in SA.

Go and speak to the upmarket estate agents in SA these people pay R3-50mil with a smile for a nice property. They have security guards around the property so for them it is fine.

Look at this company http://www.hartproperties.co.za/ this is one of the top estate aget in SA.

Answer 4

If its retiree's, they've probably forgotten about the crime rate...ag shame.

But that sounds nice...

Answer 5

every country has it's problems.  besides all that...south africa is a good place to live.  we have beautiful beaches, a moderate climate, good education, natural resources, most people speak or at least understand english...so thats probably why they flock here!

And the reverse is true as well...for south africans, the UK is the most popular place to go to.

Answer 6

Barend summed it up nicely. There are many reasons why they would want to move to SA. My mother, my mother-in-law and all their respective girlfriends (in SA) are all pommies who chose to stay  after coming for a short visit or short work contract (many years ago). My pen pal who visited SA for the first time to attend my wedding (two years ago) fell in love with the country and wanted to buy a holiday home (millions of rands) almost straight away. He has since been back to visit and investigate property and he is going back again next month, each time he pays for his mum to go with him since our mums are best friends. Unfortunately his opinion of the country was soured when our mums were locked in the Hyperama near Edenvale during a big taxi shootout. I think the crime thing doesn't seem real unless you have experienced it.

Answer 7

I married one, but he came here years ago. Friends of mine emigrated back to the UK in June, they lived here 2 years, but then their pounds ran out and they could not because of AA get decent jobs. They come and go.

Answer 8

Well Africa is beautiful but not advanced  and Rich,but i think there are doing this because well 10 percent of  the UK is foreigners maybe more ... so they exchanged countries.

Answer 9

South Africa is not a horrible place.

Answer 10

It is exactly as Barend says. Middle class Europeans living under standard and basic conditions there…can come down to South Africa and afford luxury homes with guards, due to the exchange rate.

Expats can do the same, for the very same reason. (Leave the country, make money elsewhere; come back with the money earned and it is 7 or 9 fold in value)

It is a pity that you did not get stats on Germans that are also flocking down to South Africa. It is just as high. In fact there are thousands of Germans living illegally in the country, believing that in Africa, rules don’t apply. 15,000 were sent back months ago and another large figure not too long ago.

The truth is that South Africa is a beautiful and wonderful place. The Europeans that come to live here have enough money to protect their property and themselves. The standard, average  South African can not afford these prices and houses, let alone pay for guards. So they get to see and feel the crime…and they are the ones affected. And obviously they are the one's carrying the country and complaining about the state of affairs.

Answer 11

I've heard it's quite beautiful.

Answer 12

Lakshmi N Mittal became a South African.

And he is the 4th Richest man in the Planet.

But then you must remember its different strokes for different people even if there was no crime.

One would still find unhappy people.

Not everyone is going to like it here.

Its like work there are people earning lots and are unhappy.

Its impossible to please everyone.



It all comes do to respecting each other decisions why should people be percicuted because the left  SA and vice versa.

PS

Incase you people are wondering why the change of heart well all Credit to "Virago's" Question on Friday.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 13

interesting. I never knew there were that much of them poms comming to settle here. perhaps it's because of our much better rugby and cricket teams

Answer 14

Any place is better than where they come from.

Answer 15

They are mostly g*y out looking for a bit of chocolate. Cape Town has become a huge market for all the q****s of Europe.

Answer 16

It may be possible that 20 000 British have emigrated but I think it is more likely that they were here for decades. Both my parents are not South African citizens. We were all in Mozambique until we were forced out to South Africa (Similar to the Zimbabweans) Portugal gave us Portuguese citizenship even though we have no connection to the country. Because they have been here for so long they can become South African citizens but may lose their European citizenship (a very risky thing to do).

They may have chosen to change their nationality so that they can vote or to purchase property or for some or other reason. It is possible that they chose to move here but it is unlikely...