bensdad

hi i am new to this so please stay with me, i going out to joburg in january 07,to look into starting a new business with my brother-in-law{who lives there} my problem is my wife will not come with me.We spent a month out there last christmas and although we had an amazing 2 weeks in pilansburg even though it rained a lot, joburg scares her or the horror stories do which her family kept reeling off, we saw no trouble but to be fair we didnt go out much at only to casino twice and northgate shopping centre near the dome.i lost my business just before we went out and have been unable to turn things around since {there is not much scope left in the uk now most of my friends talk of moving out}and we are on the verge of losing everything but there is half of a chance of starting something in joburg seems more opportunities over there,anyway to the points will i have problems if i visit more than twice a year for 2/3 months at a time? will i need a work visa straight away {on my first visit want to see if it can be set up}? will i be able to open a bank account if i rent a house using that as my permanent residence or will i need a sa bank account to rent in the first place? and yes i will be asking the in-laws but i could do with some impartial advice as well, also is medville a good area and how long to drive to cape town {not garden route} is it safe to do it on my own any advice most welcome and thanks

Luma

For visa info:
http://home-affairs.pwv.gov.za/

Pablo

You won't be able to open a bank account unless you can demonstrate that you are Permanent Resident, which means providing your ID Number and showing your ID Book, neither of which you will have. Furthermore, you will have difficulty running any sort of proper business illegally, which is in effect what you will be doing unless you have a temporary work permit or Permanent Residence. (For example, you will need to register with the tax authorities, provide tax returns, possibly register for VAT - all this requires that your status is made clear to the relevant tax authorities).

If your business is something casual and cash-in-hand, then you can get around these difficulties. But there's no future in something like that, even in the unlikely event you can make something casual work for you. Furthermore, you will have to justify your position to the authorities further down the line if you work illegally and then try and regularise your position later.

As for renting, you might find someone who will rent to you on the basis you describe. But ask yourself whether you'd rent your house to an illegal immigrant. Maybe you would, if it was a friend or a friend of a friend. But clearly anyone who doesn't know you will have reservations.

I think you need to consider too, whether, if you do manage to make a go of things, SA is the place you see yourself growing older, settling down, etc. One hears many sad stories of people of pension age trapped in SA while their children have left for safer and more prosperous countries. That sort of consideration may not matter to you. It does matter to some people, though, and it's worth considering it.

Sorry if this sounds rather negative. I'd rather you heard it now, before you've made any irrevocable decisions.

In the end, it all depends how desperate you are, and how much your brother in SA can help you. If you are truly about to "lose everything", well, then what have you got to lose? Your life, possibly. But so what?

Best wishes,

Pablo

bensdad

thanks pablo for advice i think i will need to go for the temporary work permit and take it from there i want it to be legal in fact it has to be but i want the freedom to be able to come and go from sa, and no i dont think i will retire there but if it turned itself around safety wise it would be one beautiful place to go,{ they are trying there best to encourage people from this country to invest in holiday homes in cape town and compared to the cost of houses here they are still relatively cheap] as for renting good point didnt see it like that but if i have work permit will benefit me i hope in that dept!hey but nothing ventured nothing gained thanks again

Pablo

On the work permit, when I last looked into it (about five years ago) you needed to be employed by someone in an area where no suitable South African citizen/resident was available in order to qualify for a work permit. Furthermore, the permit was valid ONLY for that one job with that one employer. It used to be quite a bureaucratic hassle. So I'd advise you check up and don't just assume you'll be able to get one.

Yes, houses are still relatively cheap. But the cost of living has gone up a lot, and the tax burden is much higher than the UK, especially when you factor in things like medical insurance (which is a must!), armed-response security, etc.

Remember too that the cheap property thing is a two-edged sword. It's cheap for UK residents who sell up and go to SA. But then it's almost impossible to afford ever to return to the UK, so you're trapped.

Best wishes, Pablo

Tegwyn

I'll make myself a tad unpopular here but you need to know that affirmative action may well interfere with your efforts. I'll even go further and tell you that I agree with your wife's decision to not go to S.A. It is a beautiful country but lethal to your wellbeing. There surely must be another way of keeping your family together and finding another option of employment.

bensdad

hi what do you mean affirmative action may interfere, there maybe other options it is just that this opportunity as arisen at this time in that certain country with the contacts we have out in sa, can i ask how long since you have left please and i will ask in-laws if things have improved since then

Tegwyn

The white face is not exactly welcome in S.A. anymore. Should you get your visa and set up shop in SA, make sure you hire the required number of black folk. The labour laws can be quite tough. I have family members that are in business for themselves in S.A. that are selling out and leaving. My nephew was carjacked just over 5 months ago and is lucky to be alive. We are doing everything we can to get them into the U.S. I was back there 5 months ago to help out.

FIY, there is so much of that country I love as I grew up there. It however is imploding and I prefer a normal life (safety and freedom of movement) than living behind barricades and in fear every day of my life.

If you insist on living there, make sure you buy yourself a gun and know how to use it. It may well come in handy from time to time.