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South Africa 'will always be home'

28 April 2006 Most South Africans living overseas still have a high level of commitment to the country and feel that "South Africa will always be home". This was the finding of a survey released ahead of the country's Freedom Day celebrations by marketing and social insights company Research Surveys. Although only 34% of the survey's respondents indicated that they wished to return to South Africa, 90% recommended that others visit the country, and 83% said they told others about positive developments in the country. Eighty percent of the respondents said that they supported South Africa in international sporting events, and even more say they are proud to be South African. Global South Africans Yvonne Johnston, chief executive officer of the International Marketing Council of SA, which sponsored the survey, says most expatriates are "global South Africans". "While the perception is that South Africans living overseas are all negative, in fact, the research disproves this," Johnston said. "The majority of them are positive and help build Brand South Africa with their patriotism." The survey was conducted in February 2006 using an online "viral sampling" technique. Participants received an e-mail invitation to take part in the survey and were asked to pass that on to all the South Africans living overseas that they knew. Nearly two thousand (1 938) South Africans participated in the survey. The vast majority of respondents live in the United Kingdom (41%), US (14%) and Australia (13%), followed by New Zealand (6%), Ireland and Canada (5% each). Employment opportunities The reasons South Africans left influenced their choice of adopted country, the survey found. Those living in the UK were attracted by the employment and financial opportunities (67%) and the chance to travel and see the world (38%). While those in the US and Australia were also attracted by the employment and financial opportunities (55% and 52% respectively), South Africa's crime rate was a "push factor" for them leaving (38% and 55% respectively cited crime). A third of all respondents (34%) indicated a willingness to return to South Africa. This figure was highest among those living in the United Kingdom (49%), while only nine percent of those living in Australia and New Zealand expressed an interest in returning. SouthAfrica.info reporter

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