The Relocated South African | Emigration stories

Martiens Bekker is a sculptor, blacksmith and multi-medium artist from Naboomspruit.  He served in the SA Police Force, studied forestry, and built a career making scrap metal sculptures and film props for Warner Brothers and DreamWorks.  In 2009 he moved to Cornwall, UK, where he ran a coffee shop, served on the Coast Guard rescue team, and sold art — including a piece to the drummer of Queen.  A...

Kerry grew up in Kempton Park, playing cricket and hockey his whole life before building a bulk tanker business with his wife on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. After years battling fuel theft syndicates and escalating personal threats, he made the call to move his family to the UK in July 2019 — arriving just months before COVID-19 turned everything upside down. Now, drawing on five years of hard-...

Monty Stephenson, chartered accountant (South Africa and Canada), business leader, and director of the Solulo Foundation. Monty grew up in Plettenberg Bay and qualified as a CA with Deloitte Johannesburg before emigrating to Prince George, British Columbia in 1996. Over ten years he built a senior career in audit, raised a family of three daughters, and came within six months of making partner — b...

Dale grew up in Alberton and on a farm in Walkerville, Johannesburg. Armed with a British passport and a bass guitar, he landed in London in 2002 with little more than a suitcase and £100. Over 16+ years he built a career in real estate, raised over £1.5 billion in property transactions, and won multiple industry awards — before returning to South Africa just weeks before COVID-19 lockdown. He now...

Martin Maritz grew up across the street from Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, attended Affies, became a scratch golfer at 13, and earned a full golf scholarship to the University of Tulsa.  He went on to play 300+ events across 47 countries on the Sunshine, European and Asian Tours, came agonisingly close to winning the Dunhill Championship (losing to Justin Rose in his first ever pro win), and played...

Steve Felder is a South African global executive who has lived and worked across five continents over 25 years — from Cape Town to Joburg, Pittsburgh to Tel Aviv, Nairobi to Mumbai, Copenhagen to Montreal.  He built his career in shipping and logistics with Maersk and Safmarine, leading businesses across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, before making the leap into entrepreneurship.  Today...

In this episode I speak with Cornis van der Lugt, a South African sustainability expert.  He shares insights on his international career, the transition from apartheid to democracy, and living across different cultures.  This episode offers valuable lessons on resilience, cultural diversity, and building a meaningful life abroad. He discusses his childhood and family history rooted in the Western...

In this episode, I sit down with Marilise de Villiers-Basson — TEDx speaker, high-performance coach, founder of Roar Coaching & Consulting, and bestselling author — for one of the most honest and inspiring conversations the show has had. Marilise grew up in Bredasdorp in the Cape Overberg, studied B Accounting at Stellenbosch University, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC in Cape...

In this episode, I speak with a South African couple Jannie and Karen Kotzé about their migration journey to Australia. They discuss  the challenges they faced, and practical advice for others considering the move.  We talk about safety concerns, immigration processes, cost of living, and cultural adjustments, providing valuable insights for prospective migrants. Karen also shares some insight on...

In this episode I chat with Marco Bouwer, A South African entrepreneur who builtds bridges between South Africa and China through his work in international trade.  He shares insights into living in China, doing business there, and the cultural nuances that shape this unique experience. Marco discusses how to build trust in Chinese business culture and navigating Chinese regulations and red tape. H...

In this episode, I speak with South African entrepreneur Francisca Lombard who shares her journey from South Africa to Canada. Discover how she turned tech innovator, leveraged Canadian industry experience to create MineGPT—an AI system tailored specifically for the mining sector.  This episode explores themes of adaptation, entrepreneurship, and the transformative power of AI in resource explorat...

In today’s episode I talk with Lazola Tutani who shares his inspiring journey from South Africa to the US via Germany. We discuss his early life and the lessons learnt from his rugby coaches in the Eastern Cape. He highlights his career in manufacturing, cultural adaptation, and future ambitions to contribute back home.  He shares insights on living abroad, career growth, and maintaining family co...

In this episode I speak with  Jesse Green the founder of Apostil.co.za . He shares his journey from South Africa to Seville in Spain. He provides insights on immigration, and the services offered by apostill.co.za to assist South Africans with documentation and legal processes. He discusses some of the challenges and solutions encountered in dealing with international documentation.  We explore th...

In this episode I speak with Rob Mailich, a seasoned South African entrepreneur and recruitment expert. He shares his fascinating journey from Johannesburg to London and beyond.  He discusses the importance of maintaining cultural roots, the realities of immigration, and the value of international experience for young professionals. He highlights the cultural attributes of South Africans that make...

Explore the compelling story of Ankia Coetzer, a South African whose life has spanned several countries, careers, and personal challenges.  Her journey highlights the complexities of migration, the importance of resilience, and the evolving meaning of home. Ankia shares  how her early relocation from Johannesburg shaped her perspective on migration She talks about the experiences and lessons learn...

In this episode, I speak with Johan Jooste who has lived in 4 countries abroad and is considering moving back to South Africa. He shares his extensive journey as a South African expatriate, detailing his experiences living in various countries including Jersey, London, Singapore, and Liechtenstein.  He discusses the challenges of relocation, the importance of family dynamics, and the emotional and...

In this episode, I speak with Wendy Williams who left South Africa for Australia at age 45. Wendy shares her inspiring story of moving from Zimbabwe to South Africa and eventually settling in Australia.  Her journey highlights the courage it takes to restart later in life, navigate complex immigration processes, and embrace new opportunities. She discusses adjusting to life in Australia: safety, q...

In this episode, I speak with Vincent Heys, a South African immigrant to Canada, about his journey of relocation, the challenges faced in adapting to a new country, and the importance of financial planning for immigrants.  We discuss family dynamics, the decision-making process behind immigration, and the role of faith and community support.  Vincent shares insights on the differences in education...

In this episode, I speak with Graham Cosgrave, a recruiter for doctors in Ireland, discussing the intricacies of relocating for medical professionals, particularly from South Africa.  We explore the challenges faced during relocation, the unique qualities of South African doctors, and the importance of family and community integration in the process.  Graham shares insights on the growing interest...

In this episode I speak with Kurt De Bique, a South African who has made the significant transition from Cape Town to Copenhagen.  Kurt shares his journey, detailing his upbringing in Cape Town, the pivotal moments that led to his family's decision to emigrate, and the challenges they faced during the relocation process.  He reflects on the emotional farewells to family and friends, the cultur...

In this episode, I speak with John Pereira, a South African living in Ukraine. We explore his journey from South Africa to the UK at age 20 and eventually to Ukraine.  John shares his experiences in the British Armed Forces, his deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, and his life in Ukraine during the ongoing conflict.  He moved from Kyiv to Lviv due to the ongoing conflict in Kyiv. He discusses cult...

In this conversation, I speak with Dr. Mario Denton a world renowned coach and speaker. He shares his insights on immigration, personal growth, and the emotional challenges faced by South Africans considering moving abroad.  He discusses the importance of understanding one's purpose, the emotional costs of immigration, and the need for support networks.  Dr. Denton emphasises that immigration...

In this episode, I speak with Abré Van Wyk the host of the KarooKiwi podcast about his personal story of moving from South Africa to Hamilton, New Zealand. He highlights the immigration process, community integration, and the realities of living abroad.  We explore his insights on setting up a business, cultural differences, and maintaining connections with South Africa.  We discuss building commu...

In episode 48, I  interview Danie Brink, a South African math teacher who has navigated multiple relocations to the US.  Danie shares his journey from South Africa to the US, discussing his teaching experiences, the challenges of immigration, and the importance of education.  He also highlights his charity work, Stepping Into Grace, born out of a family tragedy, which provides prosthetic limbs to...

In Episode 47 I speak with Nichola Kühne a South African brand specialist and founder of “From Startup to Wunderbrand” podcast. Nicholas talks about his early life in South Africa, his professional journey in branding and marketing and the adjustments he and his family have made in Norway. The discussion touches on cultural integration, the South African identity abroad, and the importance of comm...