South Africans who are stuck in Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand – and who would like to be repatriated home – are urged to submit an online form to book a seat on a private Australian charter plane this coming Friday 1 May 2020. According to Julia Kerr Henkel, who has been stuck in Indonesia for […]

Two good friends and passionate golfers – South African Laurence Wells, who caddied on the European Tour for over 15 years and Australian Brian Nilsson who is still caddying on the same tour since 2000 – have teamed up away from the fairways of the world during the Coronavirus pandemic, to auction some of their […]

South Africans who have found themselves stranded in Thailand have compiled a video begging for help to get home. From battling cancer to depression, these are fellow South Africans in urgent need of assistance… Their messages are heartbreaking. WATCH VIDEO: South Africans stuck in Thailand during lockdown Yesterday, South Africans stranded in Indonesia also compiled […]

Desperate South Africans, stranded in Indonesia, have compiled a video pleading for help to get home to SA. (Please see bottom of page for urgent info if you’re stuck in the region.) The video beings with a three-year-old begging governments to “let Daddy come back”. Her dad, a ship engineeris one of those stranded in […]

Here are the details for the final repatriation flight from Europe for South Africans stuck abroad. Please pass on to any South Africans you know in the region (including the UK and Ireland) who may want to make their way to Germany to fly home. South Africans in Egypt are also advised to urgently contact […]

Sasol has donated a million litres of jet fuel to support the SA Government’s efforts to repatriate hundreds of South Africans stranded worldwide, unable to get home, as a result of the global COVID19 pandemic. “This is for government to use in the repatriation of citizens and the transportation of urgent medical supplies,” said the […]

Phew, goosebumps! Watch this video of South Africans aboard a cruise ship last night, moored off the coast of Miami, singing their hearts out for the land they love and miss so much right now. Natalie Fine, a South African citizen working on board the ship alongside 24 other South Africans (and 50 other nationalities), […]

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says it is pleased to announce that 16 South Africans who were stranded in Dubai and Doha, respectively, have been successfully repatriated back to South Africa.   They arrived yesterday, 02 April 2020, following the announcement by the President of the relaxation of the restrictions to allow South […]

South Africans stranded abroad will be allowed to fly home, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has confirmed at a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon. At the same briefing, DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor asked those South Africans abroad who are not stranded or distressed to please consider rather remaining where they are. She said that data collected […]

Could all South Africans stranded abroad who would like to get home please do the following: If you are in the UK: Please URGENTLY send your names and passport numbers to the SA Ambassador in London, Her Excellency Tembi Tambo: Tambon@dirco.gov.za Wherever you are: Send a short concise email explaining your location and predicament to: […]

South African High Commission and Embassy staff around the world have been working all weekend – many in foreign countries on lockdown themselves, working from home – to do all they can to help the South Africans who have found themselves stranded abroad. “Her Excellency Ms Tembi Tambo, the SA High Commissioner in the UK […]

Last night an entrepreneurial South African’s team in the UK delivered another 200 meals to St George’s Hospital Critical Care Nurses… feeding the nurses on the frontline of the UK’s fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19). South African entrepreneur James Durrant, co-founder and director of Blue Sky Publications and of London-based Mustard Foods, says he and […]

Our intrepid correspondent Bruce Marais, who is usually travelling, has been in self-imposed quarantine in Casablanca, Morocco, for almost two weeks. For South Africans about to go into 21 days of lockdown he has some useful tips. “Dear friends in South Africa who are going on lockdown this Thursday, I’ve been in isolation for 13 […]

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, husband of South African expat Charlene Wittstock, has tested positive for COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the Royal Palace of Monaco confirmed in a statement on Thursday afternoon, 19 March 2020. Prince Albert is the first head of state to announce he has tested positive for the virus which is sweeping the […]

The 114 South Africans evacuated by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) from China’s COVID19-hit Wuhan City have touched down in Polokwane, in Limpopo. The group arrived shortly after 10:30am on a South African Airways (SAA) flight. About 20 minutes after landing, the first passenger disembarked the aircraft and was swiftly escorted to one […]

US President Donald Trump officially declared a National Emergency (“two very big words”) on Friday, 13 March 2020, as the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus rose above 2,000 in the USA, with the death toll reaching 41. To unleash the full power of the Federal Government in this effort, today I am officially declaring […]

South Africa’s Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has confirmed that the Ranch Resort in Polokwane will host the 122 repatriated South Africans from Wuhan, Hubei Province, in China. On Trip Advisor the resort is rated as ‘Excellent’. “Three sites were identified. Of the three sites that were shortlisted, The Ranch Resort was selected. An agreement has […]

China, home of kung fu, kung pao chicken and the coronavirus… writes South African teacher in China Michael Herbstein. As a Saffer living in China during these exciting times, and having a mother that some would politely describe as neurotic, I’m constantly shared an endless stream of news surrounding COVID-19 from back home. Some of […]

A short film by a South African expat about the empowerment, courage and inspiration that can come from immigrating has been nominated for multiple awards at a film festival in the United States. The film – ‘Helen’s Birthday’ – looks at positive immigration, and tells the true story of South African expat Helen April’s journey […]

As cases of Coronavirus (Covid-19) in Europe steadily climb, some Europeans have been stocking up in preparation for voluntary quarantines or forced lockdowns. The risk of contracting coronavirus within Europe has been raised by the EU today from ‘moderate’ to ‘high’. These photos were taken today at a supermarket in Germany, close to the border […]

The South African Government has outlined ‘stringent’ plans to repatriate South Africans from the Coronavirus-hit Wuhan City in China. “We have been able to ascertain that there are approximately 199 South Africans living in Wuhan and of those, 147 have indicated a wish to be repatriated,” said the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize. Amongst […]

A South African expat couple who own the Karoo Farm Shop in Killinick, Wexford, have won the Best Cafe Award in Ireland for their region. The Irish Restaurant Awards are known as the Irish Food Oscars, according to the Restaurant Association of Ireland. An elated Clint and Nessa Engelbrecht posted a photo with the award […]

In December 2017, the change to the foreign employment income exemption was promulgated into law. This has widely become known as the “expat tax”. The exemption at that point was capped at R1mil, meaning that South African tax residents earning foreign employment income above this threshold would no longer be exempt from tax in South […]

Tennis legend Roger Federer took to Facebook late Monday night to post this video recapturing the incredible Match in Africa, which broke a world record for audience attendance, at the stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, on 7 Feb 2020. The Swiss tennis player said: “Epic recap from last week’s journey to Cape Town!? @trevornoah […]

Cape Town Water Crisis déjà vu floods over me as I step into Shanghai’s Pingwu Road and see the long line of people outside the pharmacy. We’re eight days into our self-imposed Coronavirus quarantine and my husband and I have finally decided to leave the apartment… writes Anique Kruger who has been living and teaching […]