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| This book is neither a travel guide
to London nor is it a self-help book on emigrating from South
Africa to London. |
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| It’s simply a book of human interest
about ex-South Africans who now live in London, why they chose
to go there and how they are adapting to life there. |
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| It is not about backpackers or youngsters
on a gap holiday. It is about ex-South Africans who have lived
in London for many years and have taken British citizenship
or are in the process of doing so. |
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| It is not written as a political book and I would
prefer it to stay that way. However, the subject matter automatically
draws some political emotions. Whilst this could be true of most subjects
or countries in today’s world, South African politics interfere
more than most - from sport to business to leisure and especially
to a subject as touchy as emigration. |
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There are – always have been and always
will be – people from countries who emigrate from their country
for any number of reasons, and continue to love their country of birth.
They might emigrate for reasons such as: to broaden their personal
experiences, to provide better opportunities for their children, for
career or career promotions, for health reasons, to be closer to other
family members, to escape persecution, to enjoy better weather or
a higher standard of living, or even simply because they just want
to experience something different.
They might eventually decide to return to South Africa or they might
not. It remains their right to choose. Furthermore, although they
are now living in a new country, they will continue to have their
viewpoint and their opinions on South Africa.
These will invariably be discussed at some time in their new country
with family members and with new work colleagues and friends, as well
as with their future offspring. When citizens of Britain or the United
States of America for example, criticize their governments it is considered
a healthy aspect of democracy. When they decide to emigrate it’s
considered their democratic right and they are off to explore a new
country and culture.
For South Africans who decide to do this, however, all the nonsense
in the world is written about them and political propaganda takes
over. ‘They’re taking the chicken-run to Perth’,
‘Toronto should be pronounced To-Runto’, ‘a loser
is someone who moves to Perth’, and ‘an entrepreneur is
a South African who moves to Bulawayo’.
Yeah, sure. Nonsense is written that emigrants from South Africa are
people who find it hard to reconcile with the fact that the country
is now run by blacks. If ever there were people who were anything
but racist it’s those South Africans I met in London.
As you will see after reading their stories, the majority do have
possible plans for returning to South Africa for good sometime in
the future, depending of course, on the stability of the country at
that future time. If they do so then when they return they will bring
with them vast experience. If they do not then it is South Africa’s
loss.
It simply is not the case that an emigrant, who subsequently invests
in property and has a mortgage, a career, children in school and a
secure environment, will give it all up after 10 or so years just
because some politician says they should return to South Africa.
Some of the people I spoke to were anti-South Africa and others were
not. That is the way this life is and it’s not for anyone to
judge their views. It’s not an easy task to leave your father
and mother or brothers and sisters and friends and head off to a new
country and make it work for you there, to settle there and have children
who will not see their grandparents from one year to the next.
Such a decision is not taken lightly and should not be written off
by the wave of an arm and an accusation that these people are running
away. That is an insult. Some of these people are highly qualified
and others are hard working entrepreneurs. Without exception, all
are wonderful, down-to-earth South Africans with characteristic South
African warmth and friendliness, strengths that would be an asset
to any country they decided to settle in.
These people are salt of the earth. I know there are those who are
loud and more brash than others but every country has its share of
people like that. It would be incorrect to regard all South Africans
as such because of those few individuals. In South Africans in London
the interviewees talk about life in London, their social lives, business,
about friends and family in London as well as back in South Africa,
about property, accommodation, European countries (and their citizens
arriving in London searching for employment just as the Kiwis, Australians
and South Africans do), sport, networking, emigration, children and
schooling, health care and transport.
The people interviewed include: chartered accountants, chiropractors,
occupational
therapists, teachers, nurses, a travel agent, tradesmen and a plumber,
secretaries, financial advisors, a photographer, a shop owner, businessmen,
entrepreneurs, clerks and a church minister.
I met these people in coffee shops, restaurants, their places of business
and in their homes. I have not edited or changed what they have had
to say. When I set off for London to do the interviews for this book
I was worried about how the South Africans I was going to meet would
receive me. I need not have worried. If there is a race of people
on this earth who are friendly, open and who speak from the heart
then it is South Africans.
Some of the people I interviewed have since returned to South Africa
or moved on to other countries such as Israel and Australia, but their
London experiences and comments thereon remain valid. These interviews
were done in 2007. General emotions do, however, remain the same year
after year despite changing political landscapes. |
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