Dear Readers

Hope that you enjoyed the rugby!!  All we can say is BOKKE!!

 

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.

CHRISTMAS STORIES

Our request in the previous newsletter has not had much success yet – come on, readers, please let us know how you plan to 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?  Does the area where you are have any interesting Christmas customs?  Please tell us?  The reader or family with the most original ideas will get a special surprise from us.  Photographs are most welcome too!

 

 

BACK FROM THE UK?

Mavrin recently returned from the UK with her British husband.  They would like to correspond with other UK/SA couples who also recently relocated from the UK to SA.  Please send your details to us at alana@afriforum.co.za if you would like to contact them.

POSITION AVAILABLE

Henk writes:  My pos raak vakant. Ek moet die opvolger opspoor en aan die direksie voorlê.  Koste vir Maatskappy tipies R400.000-00 + bonus.  Pakket kan enige manier gestruktureer word.  Help my om ten minste 2 geskikte kandidate te kry wat die industrie wil help bou.  Kontak my gerus met vrae.  Soek persoon kundig in die ingenieursveld - vervaardiging.  Moontlik tans op Hoofbestuurdersvlak.  Geen probleem as persoon tussen 45 en 60 jaar oud is nie.  Verwag dit sal begin met 3-jaar kontrak.  Ideale vooraftrede periode vir Senior Bestuurder waar bestuurder waarde toevoeg in mentor rol in die Kaap.  Kontak Henk Snyman by henk@tasaweb.co.za.

TIPS FOR PARENTS

The Afrikaans magazine for children, Skatkis, not only offers wonderful reading matter for children, but also has great tips for parents.  Especially after immigrating, families often experience stress and then these tips should be of help.  To subscribe to Skatkis, write to industat@lantic.net.

The following tips for parents were compiled by Ansie Fouché, a play therapist:

We as parents have to evaluate ourselves.  Do you find it easy to make friends? How many friends did you have at school, how many friends do you have now and how do you treat them and address them and act towards them?  What do our children learn from us re friendship?  Which impressions do they get re healthy social interaction?  Does your child hear you gossiping and being negative about your friends, or does he/she see loyalty and respect?  Does your child see you and your spouse fighting with, cursing or lying to each other?  Take the chance to ask your child: “Who are Mom/Dad’s best friends and what do I do for them that you like, or how do I treat my friends?”  Remember, parents are the best teachers of life skills!  Let us guide our children by means of our own examples.

UPDATE RE THE IMPORTATION OF LEFT- HAND DRIVE VEHICLES

Following his letter in the previous edition of the newsletter, Rick Crouch writes:  I have an update for your subscribers in USA returning home.  The SABS now tells me that you can no longer bring any left-hand drive cars into SA.

Thank you for letting us know, Rick!  Visit Rick’s web site at http://anewsouthafrica.com.

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

MEDICAL SCHEMES

A reminder that Ronel Kruger of Solidariteit Health Care will gladly answer all questions regarding medical aid funds.  Mail your questions to us and we will make sure she receives them.

Jonathan recently asked: Is it necessary to belong to a medical aid fund?  Are the State hospitals that bad?

The answer is no. Some of the hospitals are excellent, but there are also very poor ones amongst them and you must be prepared to wait if you are a patient of the State.

I recently had to visit such an institution for tests which were only done at that institution. Although they only start seeing patients at 09:00, most patients were already there at 05:00. When the staff arrived at 08:00, we first had to complete forms and show our IDs and and and ...  I could finally leave at 11:10 – all the tests completed. The result?  Tests which would have cost me more than R2 000 elsewhere, only cost me R181-00, but I had to wait for more than six hours to get the tests (which took only 10 minutes) done.  It is not a problem should it be the exception, but what if it is the only medical care to which you have access, especially if you cannot easily take leave from work?

One of our members who does not have a medical aid fund, is waiting for a brain operation. The longer she waits, the poorer her sight becomes in one of her eyes.  Chances are good that she might be blind by the time they operate.  The State however refuses to move a patient up the waiting list, unless the situation is life-threatening ...

Our advice is to become a member of a medical aid fund, even if only for emergencies and hospitalization!

Information about the best known medical funds is available on their websites at:

DiscoveryWorld
Medihelp
Sizwe
IngweHealth
FedHealth
Pharos
Momentum Health
Telemed
Oxygen

TIPS FROM OUR TAX ADVISOR

Fanus Jonck (tax@jonck.net) sends a few general tips about the return to South Africa. You are welcome to contact him with specific questions.

Let me warn you that it can be an infuriating process to organise your affairs in SA. When you walk into a government office (Home Affairs, Customs Clearance, Driver’s Licence) expect to wait a long time.

SA banking charges are exorbitant compared to Europe.  Understand your account charges structure.  The banks will rip you off. Speak to your bank relationship manager and just find out everything you can about the best way to draw, transfer and deposit money.  You will battle to open any account apart from a savings account without local salary slips.  Do not expect to be welcomed with a credit card unless you bring a sizeable amount of money with you.

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.

RELOCATION HELP

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

MEDITATION

Borrowed from an email, but worth considering!

Where there is hope,
There is light.

Where there is faith,
There is an end in sight.

Where there is a will,
There is a way.

Where there is love
There is the strength to brave the day.

God bless!

 

Kind regards till the end of the month

Alana & colleagues
AfriForum

[www.komhuistoe.co.za / alana@afriforum.co.za]