The Relocated South African | Emigration stories

In this episode, I speak with Reeva Cutting, a South African expat living in Perth, Australia.  Reeva shares her journey of immigration, the challenges of moving with family, and the importance of mental health and support systems.  Emigrating three times and finally finding her home in Perth Western Australia, reeva has a wealth of information and advice that she shares in the discussion. We disc...

In this episode, I speak  with Wendy Carlsson, a South African who relocated to Sweden.  Wendy shares her journey from growing up in a coloured community in Cape Town to adapting to life in Sweden. She shares her experiences with cultural differences, starting a business, and the challenges of being away from her family.  She reflects on the beauty of her new life while also expressing the emotion...

In this episode I speak to Marlene Prentice the owner of Migration Network Australia.   She shares the inspiring journey of a family determined to emigrate to Australia despite facing numerous challenges.    Their journey motivated her to leave her accounting career to become an immigration agent to help others.   One of the beautiful stories she shares is about a young mother who, lacking qualifi...

In this episode I speak with Nic Latouf, a South African entrepreneur and co-founder of the Lekker Network.  We discuss Nic's journey from Pretoria Boys High to building a global network for South Africans, emphasising the importance of community, connection, and the potential of the South African diaspora.  We explore the challenges and opportunities faced by South Africans abroad, the signif...

In this episode of the Relocated South African podcast, host I speak  with Kirsty Jones, founder of Federated Advisory in Dubai.  Kirsty shares her journey from South Africa to Dubai, discussing the safety, stability, and opportunities the UAE offers for expats.  She highlights the challenges of starting a business in a new country, the importance of transparency in advisory services, and the need...

A few thoughts on the complexities of celebrating Christmas as an expatriate from South Africa.  I share personal experiences of joy and sadness during the holiday season, with emphasis the emotional toll of immigration on family connections.  I talk about the challenges of maintaining relationships with children and grandchildren who live far away, and the bittersweet nature of long-distance fami...

In this episode, I speak with Justinus Adriaanse, a South African entrepreneur now based in Canada.  We discuss Justinus' journey from Pretoria to Canada, the challenges and triumphs of relocating. He shares how skiing became a passion and a way to connect with his new life in Canada. He emphasises the importance of family support during the immigration process.  Justinus shares insights on mainta...

In this episode I chat to Desmond Denton an award-winning filmmaker who lives in Washington DC in the United States.  We discuss his and his family’s journey from Stellenbosch to the United States. We also explore the challenges and triumphs of immigration and he shares insights on his filmmaking career, the emotional impact of leaving home and the importance of preserving cultural identity. Desmo...

n this episode, I speak to Lumond Kritzinger, founder of HowzitExpats.com, about his emigration journey from South Africa to Ireland.  We discuss the challenges and planning involved in emigration, the importance of community, and the role of HowzitExpats in supporting South Africans abroad.  Lumondt shares insights on financial planning, cultural integration, and the significance of well-being fo...

In this episode, I speak to Janet Edwards, author of The Overseas Caregiver's Guid.    We discuss the challenges and emotional weight of emigrating from South Africa to Australia.    We discuss the importance of planning for the future, including legal documents like power of attorney and wills, and the emotional toll of caring for parents from afar.    Janet shares her experiences managing he...

Imagine learning Afrikaans at a university in America.   in this conversation I talk to Professor Jacques Duplessis who teaches Afrikaans at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.    He shares shares his journey from South Africa to the United States, discussing his passion for teaching Afrikaans and the cultural connections he maintains.    He also talks about his love for poetry and the resou...

Have you considered the feelings and emotions of parents whose children emigrate?     In this episode I talk to Dr Sulette Ferreira, a migration therapist specializing in emigration therapy for families living apart. We discuss the emotional challenges faced by families, particularly parents left behind when children emigrate.    Sulette highlights the concept of ambiguous loss, the importance of...

The decision to emigrate has lifelong implications and challenges for everyone involved.  In this episode I talk to Andrew Rissik, the Group International Director of Sable International, a well know company that has a slogan of “internationalize yourself, your wealth and your business.” Andrew speaks from own experience having moved to Portugal for part of the year while maintaining his roots in...

Imagine being a young aircraft engineer in the 1980’s in South Africa who goes to Russia to work on a top secret  military project. In this episode, I talk to  Kobus De Villiers, who shares his journey from South Africa to Canada. Kobus tells us about his experiences  in aerospace engineering, and the secret project to build the MIG-29 engine into the South African Airforce’s Mirage and Cheetah ai...

Imagine moving to the UK and building a successful life and career but after more than 20 years deciding to go back to South Africa.   In this episode, I chat to Wolf Dette, the owner of Wolfies Bar in London, who shares his journey from South Africa to the UK and back. Wolf discusses his early life, ambitions in finance and the challenges of running a business during COVID.   He talks about the f...

Have you ever thought about the challenges of selling everything to be ready to emigrate and then Covid arrived? In this episode, I speak to Hettie Meyer who relocated to Wellsford, New Zealand from the East Rand in South Africa.  We talk about the family’s  journey from South Africa, the challenges of moving, and the differences in lifestyle, culture, and healthcare in New Zealand. I really enjoy...

Do we sometimes neglect the feelings of parents who stay behind when their children decide to emigrate.   In this conversation, I speak with Rene Koekemoer, a South African mother who has two daughters who live abroad. We discuss the emotional journey of being a parent left behind, the sacrifices made by both parents and children, and the impact of distance on family dynamics. Rene shares her expe...

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to face major life challenges far away from the familiar comforts of home and family? Or how it feels to build a new identity and raise a family abroad, without the built-in support systems so many of us take for granted? In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Ruth Prinsloo, whose story takes us from her childhood in Boksburg, to a life spread a...

Have you ever felt that your voice was being stifled, or wondered what it would be like to leave everything behind just so you could tell the truth? What would drive a journalist to walk away from their homeland - not out of adventure, but because they could no longer breathe under the weight of censorship? In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Johan Allers, a man whose work on lo...

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to pack up your life and move overseas - not just physically, but mentally as well? What does it mean to fully commit to a new country, instead of keeping one foot in the place you came from? In this episode, I talk to Norman and Chantal van Wyk, the first couple I’ve interviewed who made the move from South Africa to Norway. What struck me most about ou...

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to pack up your life in South Africa and start over in a place as far away as New Zealand? What makes someone leave everything familiar behind and begin again, especially when safety and a better future for their family are at stake? In this episode, I chat to Dr. Kobus Du Plooy, a clinical psychologist who took the leap from Pretoria to Otago, New Zeal...

In May 2025, the US welcomed its first batch of white Afrikaans South Africans as part of its divisive Refugee Admissions Program. Some people are saying that they will be back, while others don’t even think they should have been accepted in the first place - it’s been dominating the headlines for months and today’s guest has become somewhat of a voice for the programme’s participants. Andrea Shea...

To stay, or not to stay? Relocating overseas is one of the biggest, toughest decisions that one can make. You have to consider your reasons for it, look at the pros versus the cons, and weigh up all of the things you gain (and give up) when making that move. Relocating from South Africa is not always easy. And today I'd like to share my own experience of going through that exact process. In th...

From being born in South Africa, to moving to Canada as a teenager, and then back to South Africa (this time as an adult), today's guest has been on quite the journey! Bronwyn Rodrigues is a mother, entrepreneur, and content creator who left South Africa at 15-years-old to start a new life in Canada - only to return home 23 years later. Bronwyn opened up about her reasons for relocating, the c...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to pick up your entire life and move it - all five family members, ten suitcases, and countless memories - halfway across the world? What does it really feel like to leave everything you know for the “land of opportunity”, and face the wild adventure of starting over? In this episode, I chat to Kirsten Halcrow, who - along with her husband Sheldon and their chi...