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COME HOME NEWSLETTER |
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Number 56 - November 2008Dear Readers Welcome to the 56th edition of the Come Home Newsletter!GENERAL ELECTION 2009AfriForum has just launched a campaign to lobby for the right of South African citizens abroad to participate in the general election of 2009. As part of the campaign, an urgent appeal has been sent to Dr Brigalia Bam, Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), to ensure that this right will be respected and implemented. A petition will also be circulated amongst South Africans abroad that AfriForum has contact with by means of its Come Home Campaign, in order that South Africans can add their voices to that of AfriForum to demand this right. Currently the Electoral Act (Act 73 of 1998 and amendments) makes provision for South Africans who are abroad on official business, studying at international tertiary institutions, on a business trip or participating in an international sports event to vote, but in terms of Article 19(3) of the South African Constitution, “Every adult citizen has the right (a) to vote in elections for any legislative body established in terms of the Constitution”. No conditions are specified regarding this right, and therefore the specifications of the Electoral Act are unconstitutional. The right to vote in the country of which you have citizenship is an international right. As such it is contained in the Constitution. One cannot simply deny a right because it is more convenient or cheaper from an administrative point of view to do so. South Africans abroad can sign the petition at AfriForum’s web site, www.afriforum.co.za, or at www.comehome.co.za. All petitioners will be kept informed about the progress with the campaign by means of this newsletter. Please note this is a petition for South Africans abroad, NOT for people in South Africa. Please support our campaign &
pass Sign the petition at www.afriforum.co.za. AFRIFORUM’S PRETORIA 153 MUSIC SHOW
More than twenty thousand people gathered at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria on 15 November 2008 in support of the retention of Pretoria’s name and its street names of exceptional cultural historical significance. This crowd attended an Afrikaans music show at the Monument organised by AfriForum in celebration of Pretoria’s 153rd birthday and as demonstration in favour of the retention of this city’s name and street names. Steve Hofmeyr, Bok van Blerk, Lianie May, Dozi, Gerrie Pretorius, Elizma Theron and 9 other well-known Afrikaans singers participated in AfriForum’s music show. They were Guillaume, Irene, Beeskraal, Mel Botes, Albert de Wet, Adam Tas, Gerald Clark and Piet Paraat. Sean Else acted as master of ceremonies. This is the second consecutive year that AfriForum has hosted this show. In 2007, the celebration of Pretoria’s 152nd birthday was attended by approximately 10 000 people. Also read the article in this regard. USED VEHICLE EXPORTS TO SOUTH AFRICAJonckie Jonck sends the following message to all who will visit South Africa during the Festive Season: “Thousands of us will spend this Festive Season with friends and family in South Africa. Every December we unfortunately hear and read about accidents and deaths on our roads. This year, the Arrive Alive campaign will shift its focus from road deaths to a more positive message. This is a message of change in road conduct and the message of thousands of South Africans sharing the road with each other and arriving home safely! The Arrive Alive web site has decided to offer road safety tips to road users to encourage them to act responsibly on our roads!
Share these suggestions with friends and relatives – may you all have a blessed and safe Festive Season!” TRANSFER OF FOREIGN CURRENCYLawrence Jooste of Global Treasury Solutions (Pty) Ltd offers an excellent one-stop service for foreign currency transactions at extremely competitive rates. Contact him for a quotation and see for yourself. His rates are often way below those of commercial banks and he keeps track of the whole process, so you will always know exactly how far the process has progressed and how long it will still take. You are also welcome to address questions about foreign exchange transactions to him, or to subscribe to his daily financial report. His contact details are: Lawrence Jooste TAX ADVICEThank you to Fanus Jonck who once again sent us useful information. This month he writes about why non residents should consult a non-resident consultant when buying property in South Africa: “The South African Reserve Bank has stringent exchange control regulations relating to the purchase by non residents of property in South Africa. The “non-resident” consultant can assist the international purchaser in smoothing the financial process at the time of purchase and more importantly at the time the non resident sells the property. We have found that many international clients who purchased property in South Africa in the 1990’s and earlier have had problems in repatriating the funds when the property is eventually sold. This was largely due to the failure to comply fully with the South African Reserve Bank exchange control regulations at the time of purchase. To avoid heavy financial loss it is absolutely essential that at the time of introduction and repatriation of funds the Reserve Bank’s rules are adhered to. This is where the non-resident consultant can help. We provide up to date information as to the current Reserve Bank requirements both when bringing the funds in and when taking the funds (and any profit) out again. We assist the purchaser with the regulations surrounding mortgage loans, endorsement of title deeds, rental procedures, and non-resident bank accounts. We have associations with tax consultants skilled in the areas of capital gains tax, withholding tax and income tax aspects. If required, we also assist with competitive exchange rates when introducing the funds. We aim to make your purchase as smooth and trouble free as possible so that you have peace of mind and can relax and enjoy your investment in sunny South Africa.” Fanus Jonck (tax@jonck.net) is a tax consultant and Jo Williams (jodtwilliams@mweb.co.za) is a non-resident consultant. They work closely with estate agents and conveyancers to ensure that the clients’ purchase of property here in South Africa will be a smooth and trouble-free process. THE COME HOME CAMPAIGN AND PEOPLE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENTWe always welcome CVs and try our best to find employment for returning South Africans. Send your CV to us at alana@afriforum.co.za. When recruitment service providers like jobs@ossy and Fanie (see both their ads below) approach us, we prefer that you contact them directly, even though you may already have sent your CVs to us. We are never sure whether you would be interested in their services and whether you are still looking for employment, therefore we publish their details at no cost in our newsletter and leave it up to you to correspond with them directly. EMPLOYMENT AVAILABLE
MORE EMPLOYMENTFanie Coetzee writes: “We are currently urgently looking for electrical engineers and electricians. Preferably people who qualified at Olifantsfontein (trade certificate) and are registered with the GCC. Mining orientated people will also be welcome. It is a huge privilege and joy to help people find work, especially people returning to South Africa.” Fanie’s email address is: fanie@oneworldhc.com. POSITIONS FOR TEACHERSAlison Papenfus of PLACEMENTS IN EDUCATION can assist teachers to find positions in South Africa. When sending her your CV, please add a covering letter with the following details:
FINANCIAL ADVICE AVAILABLE FOR SOUTH AFRICANS IN LONDONPSG Consult specialises in providing financial advice to professional South Africans living in the United Kingdom. They have been providing advice on mortgages, investments, pensions, insurance and money transfers for the past eight years and have helped many clients make the most of their time in the United Kingdom. They write: “Mortgages for first time buyers, home movers or investors are our speciality and the fact that we are impartial, independent and have access to the whole of the market means we should be able to find you the best mortgage for your circumstances. You can compare all mortgage rates or try the rate beater on our website or just page around for some more information on the process to shore up your knowledge! ISA's provide the perfect vehicle for regular savings and one of our FSA qualified advisors will gladly advise you on how to achieve your savings goals. For larger investment amounts our specialised platforms allow us access to a wide range of investment funds and opportunities. Whether you need life insurance, travel insurance or buildings and contents insurance, we can provide you with a quote from a range of insurers. You will benefit from the advice of an experienced advisor that will steer you clear of any unwanted outcomes. Saving for retirement is something that all of us will have to start at some time. Preferably sooner rather than later! There are several factors that influence the way you should approach this feat. For guidance in setting up your personal pension, please contact us. Our advisors can also do a complete financial review that will simulate your financial future, we can then take the necessary action to ensure that you will achieve your goals. Who would not want to retire early? Our money transfer service has been exceptionally popular. Do you need to send money anywhere in the world? We guarantee you great personalised service, no transfer fees if the amount that you send is more that £10 000 and an exchange rate better than your bank – guaranteed! Please contact us at 0044-208-7855646, or visit our website: www.psgconsult.co.uk.” INTERESTING ARTICLE ON SOUTH AFRICAN MIGRATION OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALSJasson Urbach has just published an article with the title Making sense of the health care ‘brain drain’, published by the Free Market Foundation. We are publishing an extract here. The unabridged article is available here. “South Africa’s chronic shortage of skilled health care professionals continues unabated and the situation worsens by the day. It is therefore unfortunate and inappropriate that the Department of Health continues to restrict the supply of doctors by limiting the number of foreign health professionals entering SA and the number of positions available at the government-run medical schools across the country. The number of places available to train doctors at SA’s eight medical schools is determined by the Health Professions Council of South Africa and is limited to a maximum of 1 226 positions each year. This situation has remained unchanged since the 1970’s despite the fact that the demand for these positions increases every year. In 2006, it was estimated that 15 794 prospective students applied for these coveted positions. The immediate response to alleviate the chronic shortages of medical personnel would be to let skilled foreign health professionals practise in SA. However, the SA government has set itself the ill-conceived target of a maximum of 5 per cent of SA’s medical workforce to consist of foreign doctors. It is estimated that currently 15 per cent of the workforce is foreign. Compare this to the United States where it is estimated that 25 per cent of practising doctors are trained abroad. The majority of foreign doctors in SA work in rural areas – without them it is likely that the rural system would collapse. Although there is not a specific estimate of what it costs the government to put an individual through medical school, the general consensus is that it costs in the region of R2 million per doctor. In contrast, it costs approximately R100 000 to recruit a foreign doctor.” SPRINGBOK RADIO REVIVED!The internet radio service of Springbok Radio broadcasts 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. This is made possible by the concession of the Springbok Radio Conservation Society of South Africa, the SABC and Hantam Radio. The Springbok Radio Conservation Society of South Africa is an organisation aimed at conserving the sound archives of Springbok Radio, the first commercial radio station in South Africa that closed on 31 December 1985 after 35 years of broadcasting and listening pleasure. If you would like to enjoy old favourites like Squad Cars and So maak Mens once again, visit www.springbokradio.co.za. NEW AFRIKAANS WEB SITE
Lekkerafrikaans.com is a new Afrikaans web site for all, with discussions, room for comments, recipes, and advertisements. You can also create your own social network and communicate with Afrikaans-speaking people all over the world. Write to: redaksie@lekkerafrikaans.com or visit: www.lekkerafrikaans.com. RELOCATION HELPContact the following agents for quotes to ship your goods back to South Africa:
NOSTALGIC MOMENTSWe close with a few photographs by Jaco Marais of popular South African singers at AfriForum’s Pretoria 153 Music Show:
F.l.t.r.: Sean Else, Lianie May, Steve Hofmeyr, Gerrie Pretorius and Elizma Theron. FAR HORISONSPlease tell us more about where you live? This month Ken Taylor writes to us about New Zealand:
“I have been requested to write a few articles on New Zealand, as it appears there is not a great deal of written text on the subject in South Africa, apart from the sporting contacts we share and love. I live in the wine and fruit producing region of Hawke’s Bay, which is found on the east coast of the North Island. It is an area which is rich in volcanic and alluvial soils and is protected from wet westerly winds by mountain ranges, hence the excellent sunny and dry conditions for vineyards and orchards. In addition to the above, there are sheep, dairy and beef cattle and deer farmers, not to mention the odd alpaca, goat and ostrich farmers, forestry and fishing. The accompanying picture shows the Tuki Tuki River flowing out to the South Pacific, taken from Te Mata Peak, which is part of the Craggie Range at Havelock North. Having married an Afrikaner, and travelled through a lot of South Africa, I have seen similarities to New Zealand while driving from Port Elizabeth through the Garden Route and the Stellenbosch on the way to Cape Town. Our typical daytime temperatures here in the Hastings, Napier and Havelock North regions range from as low as 8° through to 18° in the winter, to 38° in the summer and have been known to hit 40° on the odd occasion, however we do experience overnight frosts in spring and late autumn, which I am told is essential for killing off the bugs and aiding in the success of the crops. Frosts never remain beyond 10 am. Owing to New Zealand’s geographic position, its topography, its length (2 200 kilometres) its proximity to the Antarctic, Australia and being surrounded by water, temperatures and weather patterns can differ greatly. For instance … on any one day, we can see a split in temperatures from minus 4o and snow in the southern high country to a sunny and balmy 30o in Hawke’s Bay or Gisborne. Hawke’s Bay is also known for having experienced the largest New Zealand earthquake of modern times, when on the 3rd of February1931, an earthquake of 7.8 on the Richter Scale flattened large tracts of Napier and Hastings, killing over 250 people and lifting the sea bed, rolling the sea back and reclaiming vast areas of additional land. The regional airport now operates from it. Yes, New Zealand is an active volcanic country, but it is that which gives it its unique and stunning natural beauty. Because of New Zealand’s extremely strict building code, the likelihood of serious loss of life and injury through structural failure is vastly diminished. Earthquake engineers and scientists from New Zealand are at the cutting edge of building technology and have perfected many new designs which have been adopted by other earthquake prone countries. Having been rebuilt during the 1930’s, Napier and Hastings celebrate “Art Deco Festival” on the first week of February each year which is visited by people from all over the world, including film makers wanting to recreate the 30’s look. Further information can be gained by visiting www.hawkesbay.co.nz or www.newzealand.com.” DEVOTIONStranger “I feel so lost, my Lord. Here in my new surroundings where there are no familiar landmarks. Like a wet chicken in a strange coop. Like an ill penguin, swept away from its island home. I am adrift in a sea of strangers, but I am not swimming. I am hanging on to my life-jacket. Sweet memories keep me above water, I find my comfort in the people who love me. They, there in my circle where I made my home for so many years. They, in whose hearts I have found a harbour, still keep me going. I want to close my eyes and settle quietly next to the kitchen table of an old friend. I want to share my basket of problems with her and drink tea from one of her cups that I know so well. I want to laugh with her about “do you still remember when” incidents and listen to familiar-sounding news about other friends. I don’t want to be churned around here like a little shellfish in a murky pool. I cannot stand the strange waves crashing over me, that leave me looking for a place to which I can attach myself like a snail ... But Lord, as the wind and the waves quiet down, I find myself amongst a whole lot of others who are also searching for the same things as me. They, my new friends, cling to the same Rock as me. Father, now I realise that we are not really destined feel foreign or lonely. It is only when we are adrift on our own that we get lost in insignificance. As we move closer to each other, we are ground and shaped by each other’s burdens. I thank You that we do not have to be searching shellfish. I thank You for giving us to each other to love one another. In Your eyes there are no old and new friends. You collect all your children in love and eventually carry us all to the beach on the same wave. There east, west, north and south will no longer exist. We will all be a part of the sand on the beach of Your grace. |
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Thank you so much to all our contributors and readers – kind regards till next time! Alana
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