WHY SA IS SO HARD TO LEAVE? and what are your alternatives?

You're done with the traffic, the crime, the potholes, the load shedding, water-shedding, the corruption, etc. Well, before you get the hell out of dodge, here are a few points worth considering.

After experiencing a home invasion in 2018, we upped and left for a country where we were fortunate enough to have a holiday home. We stayed there while considering where in the world we wanted to live. 

Country living with proximity to extensive city facilities (International airport, health care facilities, shops and entertainment, etc.) is what we wanted. Our search criteria for an emigration country included:

• Acceptance of SA citizens 

• Preferably an English-speaking country

• Low crime rate

• Good weather to suit our outdoor lifestyle

• Business opportunities

• Affordability/Cost of living/Property ownership

• Time Zone

You would be hard-pressed to find a location anywhere in the world that ticks all these boxes. 

Aside from settling in challenges, starting over is tough: new laws and regulations, finding new professionals such as doctors, tax consultants, etc., locals preferring to support their own, work permit costs, expat taxes and surcharges, etc.

Your financial emigration means you will no longer be permitted to hold credit cards in SA, and you must settle all personal loans (other than a mortgage bond and vehicle finance). When you apply for financial emigration, CGT is triggered on all your assets other than fixed property which SARS considers you to have sold by the time you leave. 

Then consider what you'd be giving up:

• Affordable domestic help

• Friends and family popping in

• Sense of belonging (watching rugby on your own in a different time zone does not crack it)

• Communicating in your native language 

• Affordable lifestyle

• Vast open country with diverse terrain, game reserves, weekend getaways and the all-around beauty of the country.

Would you believe that 359,000 South African emigrants returned home in the last five years? Data on people moving to the Western Cape shows an increase of 35% in 2021, up from 31% in 2020. The leading age group is 49 - 64, followed by those in the 36 - 49 age group.  

All things considered, we still could find no country that we felt was an improvement over life in South Africa. After four years abroad, we decided to return home.

So, what is your alternative?

Before you spend a small fortune emigrating, ensure that you have explored the option of semigrating to the Cape Winelands. It occurred to me that if I were to remove only 'crime' from my list of criteria, not only would I be able to find a suitable location right here in South Africa, but I would also be able to have family and friends nearby. Whilst crime is a factor; statistics indicate that the Cape Winelands are significantly less affected. 

The Institute for Security Studies data from 2016 to March 2022 indicates a significant reduction in total contact crimes as well as total property-related crimes. Franschhoek has an overall safety rating of 4/5, with five being optimal.

In 2021, the number of contact crimes in Franschhoek decreased by 39%, while the property crime rate decreased by 110% year over year, and total crimes decreased by 53% year over year.

The Cape Winelands presents a compelling choice for a lavish lifestyle where the beauty of the mountains and vineyards is simply unmatched. 

The Western Cape District Municipality has received its 8th consecutive clean audit, reflecting its strong financial management, compliance with laws and regulations and improved service delivery. When load shedding is applied, the Winelands is usually one level below the rest of the country and is committed to further reducing its reliance on Eskom.

Cape Town International Airport is 30 to 45 minutes away, making the Cape Winelands a desirable option for remote offices, work-from-home or commuting business people. The Western Cape is driven to make the region investor-friendly by ensuring the necessary infrastructure and technology to support business which has attracted top multinationals, tech firms and green energy companies, benefitting residential, retail, commercial and industrial real estate sectors of the Province.

The Cape Winelands is buzzing with regular activities and events, including culinary, cultural and sports festivals and an endless number of restaurants, live music, wine estates and breweries to entertain you. In addition, it has proven to be an area that provides the ultimate outdoor lifestyle, catering to both sports and nature enthusiasts.

Finding the right property

Finding a property can be challenging as the demand generally outstrips supply. Lightstone data shows that 46% of buyers moving to the Cape buy smaller properties of higher value and 34% downgrade size and value, suggesting a trade-off in favour of an improved lifestyle.

The area boasts a plethora of lifestyle estates, many with restaurants, vineyards, excellent sports and fitness facilities, gyms, cycling and running trails, and some have schools and championship golf courses. With capital growth of over 150% over the past seven years, it's hardly surprising that 50% of residential sales are in security estates.

Much of the land surrounding established towns and villages are agricultural, limiting development potential. However, if you work with a real estate company that thinks creatively and understands the zoning restrictions, some options extend beyond the usual residential listings. It is also worth working through a company that can help you determine the optimal structure for purchasing your property.

Property in the Winelands may be a little more expensive, but it does retain value better than most other parts of the country and is still a fraction of what you would pay abroad, let alone the costs of moving. All things told, why would you emigrate if you could avoid it? 

To buy or rent the perfect property for you and for advice on living in the Winelands, speak to our Hamilton's Cape Winelands specialists. Many of our sellers are listed privately, so please feel free to brief us on your specific requirements, and we'd be honoured to provide our personalised boutique experience. 

Hamilton's Property Portfolio is a boutique agency, catering to the specific needs of our discerning clientele.

Hamilton's Property Portfolio holds a Fidelity Fund Certificate issued by the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority.