The Relocated South African | Emigration stories

What makes someone decide to leave South Africa after thirty years and start again overseas? Is it crime, opportunity for kids, or maybe just a change in family circumstances? These are questions I explored in my latest chat with Steve Ayres, who moved from South Africa back to the UK after decades of building a life in Johannesburg. In this episode, you’ll hear Steve’s honest take on what drove h...

From a job opportunity to seeking safety - these are just two of the many reasons someone might decide to pack up their life in South Africa and move all the way to North Dakota, USA. But what’s it really like to swap small-town life under African skies for snowy winters in rural America? In this episode, I chatted to Sonéll Van Niekerk, who made that exact journey with her family in 2022. Sonéll...

Have you ever thought about how stressful it might be to leave your home country and start again somewhere new? Or wondered if there are ways to really cope with all the pressures and changes that come with relocating? In this episode, I chat with Marijke Bruins, a South African-born psychologist now living and working in the Netherlands, about how to manage the stress of moving abroad. We dive in...

What would make a family uproot their lives in beautiful Somerset West and move all the way to the Netherlands? Is it career, safety, or the promise of a better future for their children? Or perhaps all three. In this episode, I chat to Bradley and Abigail du Toit, a couple who made exactly that leap from South Africa to Europe with their family. Bradley, an old cycling buddy of mine, shares how h...

Have you ever wondered what drives someone to leave behind a comfortable life in South Africa and start over in a completely new country? Or what it really takes to rebuild everything from scratch - career, family life, even community - when you move abroad? In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Zelda Botha, who left South Africa nearly thirty years ago for a new life in the United...

Have you ever thought about taking your studies international? What about starting out a new business venture abroad? What challenges and opportunities might arise, and how do you overcome them? In this episode, I chat to Kyle du Toit, who left South Africa to pursue his studies in Budapest, Hungary, before later working in Austria and eventually returning to Hungary to try his hand at entrepreneu...

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to uproot your whole life and move your family to a small island in the middle of the Irish Sea? Or what would make someone leave the warmth and familiarity of South Africa for a place where summer might only last a few days? In this episode, I chat with Alicia and Silvano Pizzocaro, a South African couple who decided to search for a safer environment a...

What drives someone to leave behind the only home they've ever known? Is it crime, corruption, or simply searching for a better future for your child? Perhaps it’s all of these. In this episode, I interview Martin Labuschagne, who made the big move from Pretoria, South Africa, to the UK with his wife and young son in 2019. Martin’s story stood out to me because, like myself, he made the decisi...

Have you ever wondered what it really feels like to leave South Africa behind, or why some people choose to seek opportunities elsewhere? Is it about following your ambitions, looking for safety, or simply searching for a different way of life? In this episode, I’m joined by Khaya Dlanga - a South African author, marketing executive, and media personality who has achieved so much both at home and...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to pack up your life in South Africa and move somewhere completely different, all for the sake of a better future for your children? Or what goes through your mind when you look at your home country and start thinking about life twenty years from now? In this episode, I spoke with Margaux and Dian de Wet, a couple originally from Johannesburg who took t...

You’ve probably seen South Africa in the news a lot lately - and not a lot of it is good news! How does the news impact the decision to leave, stay, or even return? And what is it that keeps people positive about South Africa, despite all the challenges that make headlines? In this episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Paul Harris, a well-known South African entrepreneur, businessman,...

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to pick up your life and move to a new country? What does it look like to build and maintain a support network once you've left? What are the pros and cons about emigrating? In this episode, we answer these questions and more as I’m joined by my good friend and fellow nomad, Ian Visser. Ian has lived in several countries and has a wealth of experienc...

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to start a new life on the other side of the world – away from family, familiar places, and the routines you’ve always known? Or questioned what really makes someone decide to move for good, especially when it means leaving behind the comfort of close connections? In this episode, I chat with a fellow podcaster and Tukkies grad, Rudolph Botha, who swapped life...

Have you ever thought about selling everything and moving overseas for a fresh start? What would you do if it didn’t work out quite like you hoped? In this episode, I chat with Lilly Quintal, who moved with her family from South Africa to Portugal after long-term financial struggles and the hope for a better future. Lilly opens up about what happened when they arrived, only to find out, months lat...

When the safety and security of your family comes under threat, would you move over 10,000km across the world? What if that meant leaving behind all of your family and friends? In this episode, I spoke with Lindi Dercksen, who moved from eManzimtoti, South Africa, to Australia’s Gold Coast. Lindi opened up about her family’s journey, from the early doubts and tough goodbyes to the experience of fi...

What makes a young South African couple decide to move to a country they've never even visited? And, after nearly a decade abroad, what makes them choose to return home? In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Hester and Johan Pieterse, who originally left Cape Town in 2016 for Ireland. They didn’t know anyone there, and hadn’t even visited Ireland before making the jump – talk ab...

Have you ever wondered if moving overseas could really give your children a better future? Or what it’s actually like to leave South Africa behind and start fresh in a new country with your whole family? Today I speak to Rogerio Vieira, who made the decision to relocate with his wife and five children from South Africa to Lagos, Portugal - the same place my wife and I have relocated to! Rogerio sh...

Have you ever looked back on a big decision, and realised that you did the right thing, even after all this time? In this episode, I spoke with Wade Loehmer, who moved to Dubai with his wife when she was six months pregnant. Three kids later, and Wade and his family are celebrating ten years in this vibrant city. Initially sparked by a work opportunity and familial ties to the United Arab Emirates...

All parents want their children to grow up somewhere they can be happy, healthy and thrive – but what if that meant packing up and leaving everything you'd ever known behind? In today's episode, I spoke with father, husband and founder of the travel app Oorsee, Steven Phyffer, who made the ultimate sacrifice for his family when he decided they needed to leave South Africa. We'll explor...

Relocating from South Africa to another country is a big decision, and requires careful planning and adapting to a lot of change. Today, I'm excited to bring you a conversation with Siobhan Erasmus, who decided to leave South Africa for Spain in 2018 after a traumatic home invasion (which is sadly a common story among South Africans today). She and her family took their time to plan the move,...

In this episode, I talk with Mariette Momberg, who left South Africa to build a new life in Dublin, Ireland. With a background in finance and a thirst for experiencing the world, Mariette's story is sure to resonate with many. Mariette moved to Dublin five years ago for a combination of personal and professional reasons. She desired to experience more of the world alongside her husband (as the...

Relocating from South Africa to other countries is not always easy. And today I'd like to share my own experience of going through the process. In this episode, I'll be sharing the story behind the emigration journey that my wife and I embarked on since deciding to leave South Africa in 2020. After living in multiple foreign countries, facing many unexpected hurdles, and experiencing the highs and...

The show for navigating emigration from South Africa for a better future. Join host Jan Hugo as he shares authentic emigration stories from South Africans who've taken the leap. You'll hear about what drove their decision to leave, the mistakes they made, and how they've built new lives abroad. We'll explore everything from the emotional reality of leaving friends and family behind...