White flight from South Africa

Between staying and going

Violent crime and political turmoil are adding to South Africa’s brain drain

See article

Readers' comments


Carlos Collaco

I have decided to add another short comment on reading some of the other views here.
It is likely that a percentage among those staggering 800,000 whites who've left are the die-hards who would never wish for the change that did take place and was indeed long overdue.But it certainly doesn't account for that massive number of people to which South Africans of other extractions would have to be added who moved out simply in search of a safer daily future.Of course, some will have moved for professional reasons exclusively.
None of the views is incompatible but the full picture is explained by the sum total of all parts, without denying the single most powerful argument for people (of any 'denomination') to move.
Crime anywhere - whichever the root causes - is a scourge that needs to be decisively battled against.
This requires strong political drive by the State, through its armed forces, to deal with crime in ways that it is then rightly perceived to be going down.
South Africa will pull through...


Liam29,I am not particularly sure why I am accused of "veiled racism". I will not comment on Julius Malema or Zwelinzima Vavi since I have no idea who these people are. And I am not one of those who believe that only Blacks can be defined as "Africans". If I did, then what will Egyptians, Tunisians, Algerians,Mauritians, Libyans and Moroccans be called? Whether you admit it or not, there are whites who equate Black rule to Ineptitude and SOME White South Africans are guilty of this. If you check my earlier postings stretching back to yesterday, I make it clear (or imply) that not all White South Africans emigrate because they cannot live under Black rule(i.e. they are not racists). It is clear that many leave for economic reasons. But there is a critical mass of Whites who emigrate because they are racists. Now Liam29, only you can tell whether you belong to the economic migrant category or to the "cannot-stand-Black majority rule" racist category.


Chimaoge1 wrote:September 26, 2008 10:19NB12,I will not even engage you in a war of words. My Nigeria is not perfect,but we are making progress albeit slowly. I know it is your wish that Africa self-destructs, but unfortunately for you things are getting better. A decade ago 15 african nations were at war, but today most African countries are at peace. Many are becoming democracies and AU (unlike OAU) now has the guts to refuse to recognise the new military regime in Mauritania**********************Chimaoge1I am not South African and as most people in this world I have other things to think about than whether you self destruct yourselves or whatever. There is some bizarre belief on the part of some Africans (admittedly they should be a minority) that the white man (and neither I am white) has nothing else to do in this life besides waiting in eager anticipation for Africa to destroy itself. As a person with interest in political sciences I follow some developments in Africa, but even these are by far not the main object of my studies in political sciences.I don't wish you any destruction and frankly I think people got enough of immigration from sub Saharan Africa to wish for this. But the fact is, and I don't know if you have any interest in demographics or global warming, but I do, and most reports that I read recently about the future of the continent are.. What is the best word to say it... a bit scary


Nefretiiti, Chimaoge1:The two of you sound like you'd get on well with Julius Malema or Zwelinzima Vavi.Your poorly veiled racism is exposed by your myopic view of Africa and reading of the article.Nefretiiti, I suggest you actually READ THE ARTICLE. Nowhere is there, and I quote, "talk of White South Africans leaving, as if their being white gives them an alternative of what country to live in". If you actually read the article you would see that South Africans of ALL DEMOGRAPHICS consider leaving because of high crime levels, political instability etc. It is simply because of historical reasons that the white portion of the population are better positioned to actually get up and leave.Chimaoge1, there was a debate in one of the Proudly South African groups on facebook not too long ago about whether or not you could be white and call yourself African(I used to be a member). Without exception the white members said yes. A large proportion of the black members said no, only black people can be Africans.


I would go back tomorrow if it weren't for the crime and so would so many of my friends (many of them Drs and Dentists). But I just cannot live with the fear of being carjacked, raped or murdered at any moment. Too many things have happened to too many close friends and family that I just won't take the risk wit 2 small children.

I do pray for my country and I will return one day if things get better. Apartheid is over, get over it, move on and recreate the Beautiful South Africa that is is.


NB12,I will not even engage you in a war of words. My Nigeria is not perfect,but we are making progress albeit slowly. I know it is your wish that Africa self-destructs, but unfortunately for you things are getting better. A decade ago 15 african nations were at war, but today most African countries are at peace. Many are becoming democracies and AU (unlike OAU) now has the guts to refuse to recognise the new military regime in Mauritania.NB12, apartheid state is dead, you have to live with that fact. If you don't like the new rainbow nation of South Africa then feel free to emigrate to Australia or New Zealand. Like I said in an earlier post yesterday, "No one will blame whites for leaving south Africa....the world is now a global village, so I do not see a problem with those who wish to migrate to other lands in search of greener pastures or even in search of territories ruled by people that look just like them (even if I believe such motivation for immigration to be daft, backward and foolish)"


Chimaoge1 wrote:September 26, 2008 09:35pisgah,everyone in South Africa is affected by crime irrespective of race. Recently Lucky Dube, one of South Africa's most talented black musicians, was gunned down in his car while taking his kids some where. These white south african friends of yours have not told you the REAL reason why they left South Africa.*********************Of course they are leaving because they are racists. Petty worries for their safety and the safety of their children are only a smokescreen. Incidentally one of my friends had to visit your Nigeria a few weeks ago. He was accompanied to his place of work by an armed convoy. Should I say more? I don't know if South Africa is a thriving nation, maybe by African standards and as long as the majority of its white population prefers to stay, but about Nigeria my friend had no doubts; this place is heading towards massive environmental and social catastrophe, he said.


Older whites are forced to stayed unless they have money or relatives willing to sponsor them.By money I mean millions of Rands (R8 = US$1 approx) etc..Even with good academic and technical skills the dice are loaded against older white emigrants. Just let any of them who wish to go try the UK job market. Withouth connections you will get nowhere!Do not forget that the ANC is (somewhat) divided on "tribal " grounds, i.e. Zulus vs Xhosas. Mbeki is a Xhosa and Zuma is a Zulu.Zuma has charisma which is something Mbeki lacks. He is cold and austere.I do not beleiev that we are going to be another Zimbabwe. There are more whites here than there were in Zimbabwe.



View from the Volta

On reading this article, I can’t help feeling that it all boils down to the fact that a lot of the white South Africans simply do not like having to share their country’s wealth with black people. It was fine when they called the shots and in the process sowed the seeds of the current crime-wave by denying education and opportunity to the majority of the population. But no, we never hear the cause of crime, only the result. These people pine for a return to the old days of Apartheid and are not prepared to work for or under a black Boss or Black Rule. These same white “SA ex-pats” continually write letters to the media about how bad things are in South Africa and indeed Africa. They don’t even try to hide the fact that they clearly wish South Africa would self destruct in one huge cataclysmic civil war simply to justify their long held views that African’s are incapable of governing themselves. Over the years million of Irishmen have left Ireland to live elsewhere. Brits have left the UK in droves. But, I don’t hear as many of these ex-pats trashing their countries with such venomous passion. Good riddance is my answer to these expatriates for in African parlance, “…..if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem”.


Nefretiiti,I am also Nigerian and back up your statement hundred percent. The problem with SOME African citizens of European descent is that they do not feel African at all and have little passion about the place. That is why once their colonist European outpost apartheid state was supplanted by a TRUE African state, they started emigrating to territories ruled by people that look just like them (USA, Australia,UK, etc). I maintain that South Africa is a thriving nation and all its citizens (including Whites who genuinely feel African) should join hands to make RSA a better place.


I am a Pole who spent a few years in California and had the opportunity to talk to some South Africans leaving there. The stories they told were horrible. There did not seem to be anybody to protect them against rape and robbery in their native country so they decided to leave. I especially remember one woman in their thirties who left while pregnant with her second child. When I asked her whether she was going to return to Johannesburg, she violently exclaimed : "For Jesus' sake, no !".

Carlos Collaco

The figures set forth in this article make it look like an exodus rather than mere global-economy migration trends.
I believe the white population in South Africa peaked at 5.2m back in the 70's but if 800,000 have already left then it is fair to say the country is already losing a great deal.
History is what it is not what we would wish it had been, leaving enduring legacies that need to be managed wisely.Broadly speaking the whites are an essential element to the South African landscape, far beyond mere economics.Their skills acquired over generations are vital in keeping the economy going generating the revenues the government collects to implement its much needed social policies.
Besides, the white South African is indeed a white African.He belongs there by right, by culture, by tradition and by his role in the building of modern-day South Africa.His 'entitlement' to a share of the land should never ever come into question.
Many descend from early settlers who've been in the southern tip of Africa longer than white Americans, Canadians, Australians or New Zealanders have in each of these territories.
Most of them have by now accepted the new order which had to set in sooner or later.The prophets of doom were proved wrong by the peaceful transition that took place in 1994, Nelson Mandela being the Statesman that most countries need, particularly in their troubled or changeover hour.
Truly the main problem is the obnoxiously high level of common crime.
The South African State must devise ways of making a serious dent in crime rates.If violent crime is this high then it reveals that other forms of crime - from petty offenses to the more serious strands - is rampant.In such a social context it is not surprising South Africans from all communities and walks of life feel threatened and would wish to emigrate to lands where they can feel safe.This is a basic instinct inherent to humans.
Whites are better equipped to actually jump off-board and regrettably this is indeed happening.
For most I believe it must be a tearing decision to leave behind such a beautiful and promising country despite its woes.
Bringing crime under control is a major challenge, a daunting task given the prevailing social conditions for millions of black South Africans.However, the State has no option but to do its utmost as only an organized State can to deliver a society in which each individual citizen feels secure going about his daily life.
Words of diagnosis or stating reality as it presents itself are easy to flow.
It certainly is extremely difficult to turn the situation around drastically within a reasonable timescale. Yet, that alone will change perceptions or real experiences amongst ordinary South Africans.
For a stronger South Africa, I do hope that this outflow of whites will taper off, eventually leading to a return home in the years ahead.


The grass is greenest where it's watered. SA has issues but the world is moving in SA's favour. South Africa has mineral resources and youth, albeit a largely ill-equipped youth at the moment. It has sunshine and energy, good wine and waves, laughter and beauty. I am returning to SA because that is where I'm from and it's where I belong. I can hold my own in the boardrooms of the world but that holds no interest for me these days.

I may become a victim of crime but I shall spend myself in a worthy cause and (at best) know the triumph of high achievement. At worst (if I fail) I shall at least fail while daring greatly, so that my place shall never be with those tired and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat. With apologies to Theodore Roosevelt.


I am not sure this story is a very good one to print. First of all how do you talk of White South Africans leaving, as if their being white gives them an alternative of what country to live in. Isnt SA their country? During Apartheid how come the blacks didnt talk of leaving. This story just gives the impression that Black South Africans are the actual citizens and the whites are only there as long as things go their way.
Its your responsibility to fix things in your country when they go bad. I am a Nigerian and I am not trying to preach to anyone, but I KNOW Nigeria is my country and I really have no where else to go.
SA has comne of age enough for the world to stop seeing them as a country with whites, blacks and coloureds.
They are a country of South Africans and each one must play their part or else things will never change.
Besides no place on earth is perfect, but for most people, your country is the best place to be.


It does seem that people are leaving South Africa. Many South African Jews moved to Israel and reportedly 1/3 of the community has already left. On the other hand, and this is a very not politically correct thing to say, South Africa owes all of its special situation in terms of infrastructure and economy to the white rule. One can decry crimes of apartheid until he is blue in the face but all countries around are run even worse. As the whites and others are leaving one can only hope that something worse does not happen, something like an outbreak of tribalism or whatever. I never had much faith in South Africa. And I think that it's plain clear that the country is simply moving to reintegrate back into its surrounding in terms of living and education standards. It will not become another Zimbabwe, but over time the gap between it and those its neighbors who were spared the joys of apartheid will tend to get blurred more and more.


This article understates the impact and prevalence of "Affirmative Action" in South Africa.I am white South African and an Electrical Engineer. I grew up after Apartheid and never believed in it. I left one year ago and am now living happily in Europe. I never intend to return. While my skills are highly in demand, I was made to feel totally unwanted by the South African government. Private industry (mostly white-run in my experience) continues to flourish in South Africa, providing jobs, goods and services. But whenever the government spots an opportunity to interfere, it invariably imposes onerous "BEE" (Black Economic Empowerment - read "racist") requirements. X% of management and shareholders (the ratio varies and is set by law) must be black to even consider getting a government contract or dealing with a state-run enterprise. This in a country where there is a very short supply of skilled black labor and black-owned capital.


This was an extremely depressing article - mostly because it accurately depicts the way I see things in South Africa at the moment.I'm a young, white South African, close to the end of my Ph.D in engineering at Cambridge University, and as things stand now my skills will not be staying in South Africa.

The Cricket

I sympathize with the writer who lost one of his relatives, but murder in South Africa has been steadily decreasing since 1994.


The majority of white South Africans should have a guilty concious for the current crime. During the apertheid years, they had a choice between the racist National Party and the liberal Progressive Federal Party of Mrs Helen Suzman. In election after election, their choice was apertheid and its policy of not providing a decent education to non-whites. SA has the most advanced money economy in Africa and one needs skills to be competitive in the job market. How do you expect the generations of non-whites whose formative years were during apertheid to compete and earn a decent living? Why should anyone be surprised that they have turned to crime? Those crime statistics are arpathied's bitter harvest.


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