Looking for a long lost relative in South Africa, How do I go about this?

Question

My Mom's Uncle moved to South Africa from Scotland before she herself moved to America 45 years ago, she had exchanged letters with him 15 years ago, me and my sister are going to South Africa and we would like and try and find him as he is one of my moms last living relatives. What is the best way to go about locating him? We have a name and the names of the family members that lived with him, and the city he lived in 15 years ago (Durban) and the rest of the family background, where do I go from here?

Answer 1

there are websites like ancestry.com that you can look up your ancestors

Answer 2

I live in Durban now but am not sure how you'd go about finding your great-Uncle unless he's still living here and in the phone book (I might be able to help you with that if you want).

All Citizens or Permanent Residents of South Africa (he's bound to be one or the other) have to have ID books and an ID number which they keep for life.  If you happen to know his ID number it could help to trace him but I'd start with the phone book.

Answer 3

Take out an ad in the local Durban paper.