Dear Readers

Greetings from wet Pretoria!  It is raining today and the plants around our building are emerald green, replacing the dead leaves of winter (see photo). 
The jacarandas have also started flowering in town!

Once again, we start with the usual essential news: This is the free newsletter of the Come Home Campaign of AfriForum for all South Africans intending to return to South Africa, in process of returning or just back home. To subscribe or unsubscribe to the newsletter, send your comments or make a contribution, contact us at alana@afriforum.co.za. Mark the email “COME HOME SUBSCRIBE”, “COME HOME UNSUBSCRIBE”, or with the topic of your choice. The newsletter is a monthly email publication which is available in either Afrikaans or English. New subscribers are always most welcome. Also bear in mind that although we select our advertisers with care, we cannot guarantee or be held responsible for the quality of their services or products. Advertisements are published free of charge. Please also feel free to comment on their service delivery.

CITIZENSHIP

Many people sent us enquiries about their South African citizenship status this month.  It is indeed possible that one can inadvertently lose one's South African citizenship.  In the case of people who were born in South Africa, this usually happens when they apply for citizenship of another country without applying for the retention of their South African citizenship FIRST. The citizenship of people who were born abroad and naturalized here at a later stage, are also influenced by factors such as the number of years spent outside South Africa and when they left the country.  Contact us if you have any questions in this regard.

In addition, we would like to repeat the following very important article from our previous newsletter.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT NEWS: TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT APPLICATIONS

Many of you would know that South African consulates often recommend that foreign nationals should rather enter South Africa as a tourist and once in the country to change the visitor’s visa to a temporary residence work/study/business permit.  DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER DOING THIS – IT MAY NO LONGER BE AN OPTION!  We discovered information in this regard after having been contacted in August by Norwegians who told us that they were now stranded in South Africa after following this advice from the consulate in Oslo.  Enquiries at Home Affairs yielded no information, but with the ever-efficient help of the Department of Trade and Industry and of Mr. Julian Pokroy, lawyer and immigration specialist, we finally found the answer.  Julian writes:

 

Just a short note to follow through that it is indeed correct that the Department of Home Affairs issued a Police Directive [Immigration Directive 22 of 2007] which does restrict changes of status being done discriminately in South Africa.

This specifically applies in situations where an individual comes into South Africa on a visitors permit and does not declare his or her actual intentions for the visit such as application for a work permit.

Whilst changes of status are not prohibited in terms of the Act [reference Section 10 (6), the Directive suggests that good cause would have to be shown as to why they should be considering a change of status from inside the country.

Enquiries in this regard are welcome.  Please take great care when travelling to South Africa on a foreign passport to ensure that you do not become stuck here illegally as well.

NEW WEB SITE

Richard Crouch is a South African living in the USA, who is grappling with the return process to South Africa.  His web site, http://anewsouthafrica.com contains a lot of info about him, his family, South Africa et cetera.  His article of 5 October 2007 about his personal experience and opinions about the return process is thought-provoking:

All the red tape and regulations makes returning home for expatriates an enormous ordeal. The public overtures by President Mbeki’s government to entice skilled South African’s back home are nothing but a farce.  For South African’s living abroad for the past 10 or 20 years returning home is a huge undertaking, selling a house, moving personal belongings immigration for spouse and children. None of this is made any easier by the current government.  South Africans living in the United States for example have the additional problem of their vehicles. The regulations set forth by the SABS (South African Bureau of Standards) are pretty narrow, they are as follows:

  • Left hand drive vehicles must have been manufactured before 1 January 2000;
  • The vehicle must have been registered to the importer (you) before 1 January 2000;
  • If the vehicle is manufactured before 1 January 2000 but after 1 January 1997, you must get a letter from the manufacturer stating that the vehicle complies with EU standards. (That eliminates every US made vehicle in that category because none comply with those standards).

So, basically what you are left with is a vehicle that is manufactured before 1 January 1997. Well, two of my four vehicles were manufactured in 1996 and comply with all of the above requirements. When I submitted my application to SABS I get an email back that simply states “Left hand drive vehicles are not allowed in South Africa”. Now that statement is blatantly inaccurate. Yes left hand drive vehicles are not allowed in South Africa EXCEPT for the exceptions listed above.  They obviously did not know their own law, did not read the entire application or want to make it as hard as possible for returning South Africans.  It is an unnecessary burden to impose on these returning citizens to expect them to sell, at a loss, their vehicles that are already paid for and have to purchase new vehicles at four times the price on their arrival in South Africa, in addition to purchasing a new house and the other moving related expenses.  Another problem that returning South Africans encounter is the fact that you cannot open a bank account unless you are physically in South Africa. How are you supposed to bring millions of Rand with you if you do not have an account to electronically  transfer it to, are you supposed to pack you pockets and bags with cash? It should be as simple as going to the SA Consulate in the country you are currently living in, proving your identity and then opening the bank account through the SA Consulate. Maybe that is too simple for the government types.  If the government really wanted to entice skilled South African’s back home they would cut some of the red tape and make some exceptions for the returning citizens. Or maybe they see the returning citizens as a threat to them as most of them are white and they feel that they would more than likely vote for a party other than the ANC.

Would you like to add your comments to Richard’s letter? Send it to alana@afriforum.co.za.

REQUEST TO SOUTH AFRICANS IN THE UK

Susan Viljoen asks South Africans in the UK to send her some information please:

I want to provide a service to all South Africans in the UK.  I need some information from South Africans who are familiar with the circumstances in the UK.  Please send me the details of your most favourite and most popular pub and venue places for performing artists, singers, operas and all music and comedy artists where South Africans perform and entertain South Africans in the UK.  Please send your info to the following address:

SUBJECT:        Attention Susan

EMAIL:             hesterva@absamail.co.za

Thank you and God bless you

Susan Viljoen

EMPLOYMENT AVAILABLE

Fanie Coetzee represents one of the largest construction companies in southern Africa.  They are URGENTLY looking for site agents, civil engineers and other construction specialists for projects in Gauteng and elsewhere in South Africa.  If you are interested, contact Fanie at 0027-84-2333112 or fanie@oneworldhc.com.

 

SOUTH AFRICAN INCOME TAX

The closing date for the submission of 2006/2007 income tax returns is the end of October. For any tax enquiries, contact Fanus Jonck at tax@jonck.net. He will handle basic questions free of charge, but give a quote for replying to more complicated issues.

CHRISTMAS STORIES

We are planning a follow-up story about Christmas abroad. How will you celebrate Christmas 2007? Are you doing something in tune with where you are, or are you planning something special to remind you of South Africa? Please let us know. The reader or family with the most original ideas will get a special surprise from us. Photographs are most welcome too!

PROPERTY NEWS

Read more about property matters at www.realty-1.co.za.

RELOCATION HELP

Contact the following agents for quotes to ship your goods back to South Africa:

SKATKIS HELPS PEOPLE TO LEARN AFRIKAANS!

The Afrikaans children’s magazine Skatkis’ latest newsletter contains the following interesting article:

www.afrikaans.us is a web site which teaches Afrikaans to people from all over the world.  They have asked Skatkis to supply them with simple reading-matter for use on the site. Skatkis decided to send them the “Ietsie” stories – written for children, but also of interest to adults.  Sound has been added to assist students with their pronunciation.  You can listen to the stories by visiting:  www.afrikaans.us

Main Menu       →         Contextuary
Submenu          →         Stories
Submenu          →         /Niksie word ‘n Ietsie

MEDITATION

This month’s contribution is a “Gedagte vir die week” of Reverend Gawie Cloete.  Feel free to contact him at gawie@mweb.com.na:

You might have heard about the Leeuloop (Lion Walk) song by Robbie Wessels, but let me tell you about Peter’s “water walk” and let us see what we can learn from it:

Once the disciples found themselves in a storm and that in the middle of the sea – the one place where I would not like to be on a stormy night (we read about this in Matthew 14 from verse 22).  At daybreak Jesus walked toward them on the surface of the ocean.  By then they were very tired and scared.  Jesus however comforted them by saying: “Stay calm, it is Me.  Don’t be afraid.” (:27).  Right thereafter, Peter said:  “Lord, if it is really you, command me to walk towards you on the water.”   Why Peter did it, we do not know.  It is interesting that Mark and John, who also testified about these events, do not mention Peter walking on water.  Their tale ends when Jesus gets into the boat and the storm quiets down.  Matthew however tells us about Peter.  Jesus replied to Peter’s request by saying:  “Come.”  What a challenge, but Peter got out of the boat and walked towards Jesus … on the water as if it is solid ground …  It sounds to me as if he made quite good progress, because he got “close to Jesus.”  Yes, Peter did well but then his eyes started wandering!  Verse 30 tells us: “But when Peter saw the strength of the wind, he became scared and started sinking ...”  Look at this scene carefully:  It was not the water that scared Peter – no, he was a windsurfer … barefoot as well, and quite at home on the water.  The wind caused him to doubt.  As long as his eyes had been fixed on Jesus, he walked on water, but as soon as he started looking at the wind, taking his attention away from Jesus, he started sinking.

Dear water walker, or future water walker … don’t allow your eyes to wander.  Don’t look past Jesus to that which circumstances or other people would like to make you believe.  Some people always try to discourage you.  They say:

… it will never work …
... you cannot go on like this …
... I have tried this before and you are wasting your time …

They are distracting your attention – away from Jesus.  Often they might even be people close to you, like friends and relatives!  They are not necessarily doing this consciously.  They feel sorry for you and think that they are helping you, but in actual fact they are distracting you ... and slowly but surely, you are sinking.  Always remember:  The ones who had sunk already often use their last bit of energy to pull others down with them.  Don’t allow circumstances or friends to take your eyes away from Jesus!  They take your focus away from the solution (like Peter’s eyes from Jesus) and allow you to focus on the problem (the strong wind).  And before you know what hit you, you are scared and you sink.  Fortunately Jesus is faithful.  Eleven when we are sinking, we can solve everything by saying three words.  Peter said these words: “Lord, save me!”

Pray with me, please:

Lord, I would like to walk on water, but I am scared.
I would like to walk on water, but I find it so easy to doubt.
I would like to walk on water, but I have been told that it is impossible.
Lord, so many things are distracting me.
Help me to see only You.  You, who give me courage to face every day!
Lift me on Your wind and carry me way above my worries.

Amen

“Keep the Son in your eyes”

Kind regards till the end of the month

Alana & colleagues
AfriForum
[www.comehome.co.za / alana@afriforum.co.za]