26/06/2008
In a recent study by King’s College research fellow Dr Robert Crawford, the number of South African’s living in the UK is actually far lower than assumed.
Dr Crawford’s research showed a figure of 550,000, which is half of the 1,000,000 figure generally believed.
"The figure is a gross inflation that reveals more about the attitudes of South Africans towards emigration than it does about their actual number," said Dr Crawford, an expert in the area of national identity. Dr Crawford has conducted similar studies on Australians and New Zealanders previously. He will be presenting his findings at Monash University in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The study is the first in-depth look at the growing number of ‘Saffas’ who are calling the UK their home. His research called on census data, national insurance registrations, British entry/exit data and SA emigration data, amongst other sources.
The report examined questions such as why expats have left South Africa and whether they would return, and found that "while most of them express an interest in returning home to SA, the number who would actually return is significantly smaller".
An interesting sidebar to the study showed that even abroad South Africans struggled with unity. The most surprising finding was how segregated South Africans were whilst abroad - far more than any other group.
"They are spread across [London] and tend to segregate themselves according to race, ethnicity, and religion," he told News24. "Few diasporas display such marked differences."
"Anecdotal evidence" roughly divides Saffas in London as majority-English speakers in the south-west, Afrikaners in the east and south-east, blacks in the east, and Jews in the north.
Travel opportunities, career advancement and ‘earning the pound’ drew Saffas to the UK, particularly London.
"Push-factors" such as crime and BEE policies also played a major role.
While two-thirds to three-quarters of South Africans entered Britain on two-year working holiday visas, the trend is set to change.
With the introduction of the UK’s new 5-tier Points Based System (PBS), only highly skilled, qualified Saffas will be able to come to the UK. Of course those with British/EU passports will not be affected. The phasing out of the working holiday visa later this year will also have an effect, as it’s successor, Tier 5 of PBS, will most likely not be available to South Africans.
Source: http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2346766,00.html