Emigration is slowing and expats returning for SA lifestyle

John Perlman speaks with Rory O'Hagan, Luxury Portfolio CEO at Chas Everitt

Listen to the interview in the audio below.

There is a narrative that South Africans are emigrating the first chance they get due to the countless problems in our country.

However, data from the property sector paints a different picture.

The latest property data shows not only that the numbers of emigration related sales have decline, but also a number of South Africa expats are returning.

According to Tax Consulting SA, most of the people coming back are highly skilled with years of experience which is fantastic for the economy.

The reasons for returning are largely that they miss the South African climate, lifestyle and their friends and families.

“They are saying that in Johannesburg we have got our potholes, we have got our crime, but a lot of it, compared to the rest of the world, is pretty manageable.”

- Rory O'Hagan, Luxury Portfolio CEO at Chas Everitt

O’Hagan says that both emigration and semigration have normalised back to pre-covid levels.