Louise M

Hey Duncan,
How I agree with your last few words. We emigrated to SA in 1984, only leaving in 1999 when we couldn't bear the horror stories any more. I worked at Sandton Clinic, Jo'burg and many of my patients were gunshot victims. My husband had a 9mm held to his head by a taxi driver and he was saved by one of his farm managers who told him that my husband was a good man and not to hurt him.
But yes, how I miss the sunsets, the sound of the bush and the the incessant bullfrog and crickets.
We too are off to Oz this year. I know it's not Africa but it will be great to be back in the sun.
Good Luck!!
Lou

coolie

Tough.
I know what it means, but in this context it is derived from my trade, refrigeration and airconditioning.

Take it how you like, we're all entitled to our own opinions!!!

Dunandjs2

OK - fair comment

D

rossfive5

We moved to Chester, Uk from Cape Town in 1997 then moved to Perth, Australia last year. We love it here. We would hate to have to go back to the UK. As for returning to SA, never going to happen!!

Luma

Glad to hear you love it there. We're hoping we'll like it too!

bruce67

Just an update to my situation re SA passport.
I was told today that my new SA passport is waiting for me at the embassy in London - Cool.
It took 9 months to get.
I aquired a Britsh Passport by descent in 1990 (ie pre 1995 law changes) under the laws at that time a person would lose SA citizenship automatically but under the new 2004 laws that was declared unconstitutional. I was(and others in similar circumstances)allowed to use the current "permission for other nationality" forms retrospectivly.
So by filling in a retrospective "permission", a determination of citizenship and the passport application I now have my SA citizenship/passport along side my Brit one.
The processing of the determination of citizenship etc delayed the sending of the passport application to Pretoria for three months.

Just thought this might be useful.

bruce.

Dazlinsky

Hi,
I haven't been on this site since I left the UK in Nov 05. I'm a South African and we left SA for the same reasons most of you guys left. We lived in the UK for 4 years, but we just weren't happy, so we chose to move to New Zealand. This place Rocks!!! We are so happy now and living a life that we would only have dreamt of in SA and UK!

Good Luck to all you brave Saffers!!!

Luma

Glad to hear you love New Zealand. My neice is moving there soon, so we hope to visit her there sometime in the near future.

We're off to Austrlia in 12 days. I'm getting quite excited now

Dazlinsky

Hey Luma,

I wish you all the best in Oz!! I hope you enjoy it there as much as we enjoying NZ!

Dazlinsky

TouristTrap

Oh, hope you have a quick settling in period. A cousin of the dh's lives there and wouldn't go anywhere else! Loves it to bits.

JAJ

Did you have to get a Certificate of Registration or Naturalisation to acquire British citizenship, or did you acquire it at birth? Most British citizens by descent fall into the latter category, the fact they may only acquire the passport later on is irrelevant.

If you were British automatically at birth, are you sure you were ever liable to lose your South African citizenship in the first place?

bruce67

I was born in Zimbabwe to a English father. Under the old law pre 1995 the act of applying for another citizenship/passport was enough to lose it. In addition to that the interim laws between 1995 and 2004 which put those like myself in a catch 22 where having already had a British passport by then and having not "asked for permission" I was double disqualified in a way!

Under the new laws all that, especially pre 1995, was deemed unconstitutional. The whole asking permission for dual nationality has been dropped and replaced with rules for the use of a foreign passport by a South African citizen, although I do believe that those who didn't get permission between 1995 and 2004 may be in difficulty as they were not automatically deprived just had to follow the rules.

I'm no expert but I think thats the gist of it.

At the time I lost my citizenship I was totally unaware of the law which is rather amusing now as I was an officer in the Airforce which is open to only South African Citizens. I had therefore unknowingly disqualified myself in the middle of my service without knowing it! Lucky for me no one else found out

Bruce.

JAJ

I think you've misunderstood the situation. What has changed is that those South Africans who *already* had dual citizenship, eg from birth in your case, no longer need permission to hold foreign passports.

However South Africans who want to *acquire* another citizenship must still obtain permission.

----------------

http://home-affairs.pwv.gov.za/sa_citizenship.asp

Loss of South African Citizenship (Section 6)
A South African citizen who by a formal and voluntary act acquires the citizenship of another country, automatically loses his or her South African citizenship.

Retention of South African citizenship may, however, be applied for, but must be done and be approved before acquisition of the other citizenship to prevent automatic loss of the South African citizenship. Applications must be on form BI 1664 and are subject to payment of a prescribed fee of R115-00. Applications may be lodged at any Home Affairs domestic office or if abroad, at the nearest South African Embassy or Mission.

-----------------

There seems to be a high degree of confusion as to the distinction between the rules concerning acquisition of a foreign *passport* compared to a foreign *citizenship*.

bruce67

I get where you are comming from.
The stuff you are quoteing is all from the 1995 act and still exists on most of the south african home affairs web sites. I am still confused but in the link below this has been superceded/ammended by the new sept 2004 act. just my opinion but hey all I'm worried about is I got it back!

http://www.southafricahouse.com/migration/Dualcit.htm

GENERAL NOTICE

SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT, 2004 (ACT NO. 17 OF 2004)


The Amendment Act repealed section 9 of the South African Citizenship Act, 1995 as of 15th September 2004, which regulated the use of the citizenship or nationality of another country by a South African dual citizen.


This inter alia means that the system of exemption/letters of permission to make use of a foreign passport has now been terminated. No further applications in this regard may therefore be processed.


The repealed section 9 has been replaced with a section as specified in the new section 26B. Section 26B reads as follows:


“A major citizen who-


(a) enters the Republic or departs from the Republic making use of the passport of another country; or

(b) while in the Republic, makes use of his or her citizenship or nationality of another country in order to gain an advantage or avoid a responsibility or duty,

is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months”.


From section 26B you will notice that it will henceforth be an offence for a major South African citizen to enter the Republic or to depart there from making use of the passport of another country. In other words making use of a passport other than a South African passport.


Furthermore, it will also be an offence for such a citizen, while in the Republic, to use his or her foreign citizenship or nationality to gain an advantage or to avoid a responsibility or duty.


In essence, the Amendment provides that a South African dual citizen can use his or her foreign passport (citizenship/nationality) freely outside South Africa, but in South Africa, may not use his or her foreign nationality or citizenship to gain an advantage or to avoid a responsibility or duty which he or she, as a South African citizen, would otherwise not have been entitled or subject to.


Any enquiries in regard to this notice should be directed in writing to the consul.



As you may or may not have noticed - South africa never makes things simple

bruce.

TouristTrap

Speaking of passports, anyone know if they're resolved the problem with renewing a passport due to the shortage?