Blog
Mar 01

South Africans still feel pull to return despite uncertain climate

The pull of home remains strong for South Africans living in the United Kingdom, despite South Africa’s current unstable political & economic climate.

“Key factors like friends & family, the incredible lifestyle,  a sense of belonging & a desire to make a difference keep the idea of returning home top of mind among a number of South Africans living in London, ” says Homecoming Revolution CEO Angel Jones.

Homecoming Revolution, a Pan-African executive recruitment firm, is hosting a careers and networking event in London this weekend at the Park Plaza Victoria on Friday 4th & Saturday 5th March.

The event, which aims to equip South Africans, Nigerians, Kenyans and  Ghanaians abroad with all the knowledge they need to make the decision to return, is being attended by approximately 400 Africans living in the United Kingdom who are interested in opportunities back home, majority of whom are South African.

Headlining the event is hilarious South African comedian Nik Rabinowitz.  Delegates will also be inspired by true homecomer stories & expert insights on the continent from incredible keynotes including: Chris Kirubi (Kenyan Businessman & Entrepreneur), Bankole Cardoso (Nigerian homecomer & entrepreneur), Eddie Mandhry (Director for Africa, Yale Office for International Affairs) & Linda Magapatona – Sangaret (Brand South Africa Chief Marketing Officer).

Attendees will encounter career opportunities back home with top Pan-African employers including: Agco, Bryanston Consulting, Guaranty Trust Bank, Ipreo, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, Mace and MultiChoice.  They will learn all about the African property market with Pam Golding Properties, get removals advice with White & Co & find out about top private schools back home including: Kingsmead, Bishops, Hilton College, St John’s College & Roedene School.

Delegates will also speed-meet with fellow attendees, homecomers, media, business heads and opinion leaders about their personal views on coming home.

Included in the £12 ticket price is a Taste of Home snack-pack filled with some of South Africa’s best-loved snacks plus a Brand South Africa Cocktail on the Friday & a Pam Golding lunch on the Saturday.

“A recent homecomer told me that he didn’t come home in spite of the problems, he chose to return because of the problems. This is exactly the sentiment being expressed by several South Africans abroad,” says Jones.

Jones adds that while there are the naysayers determined to drag South Africa’s name through the mud, they are often the very people who feel so passionately about home.

Client Comments

“Active citizens are a nation’s biggest asset.  Part of active citizenry is to fly the country’s flag and tell our positive stories.  Brand South Africa calls on citizens, wherever you may be, to play your part and fly our country’s flag with pride and patriotism.  Very few countries have as vibrant and diverse a democracy as South Africa.  In our 22nd year of democracy, we must celebrate, honour and protect this,” Brand South Africa CEO Kingsley Makhubela.

“Future prospects for Africa offer significant growth potential for those with the foresight and ability to capitalise on this, which reinforces the growing trend of returning intellectual capital to the continent. Notably from 2010 to date, Pam Golding Properties has increased the value of its property sales on the rest of the African continent by a significant 194%,” Dr Andrew Golding, Group Chief Executive of Pam Golding Properties.

“In 20 years’ time, we will measure the success of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital based on how strong our healthcare system is, how many doctors and nurses there are in the region… How healthy our children are. That is the impact we aim to make for generations to come,” Sibongile Mkhabela CEO, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust.

“For AGCO, ‘sustainable’ means designing products appropriate for African conditions; building straightforward, modern and dependable products in Africa by developing our local assembly and manufacturing footprint and training farmers and dealers through the AGCO Future Farm, together with first-class parts, service and field support through AGCO’s extensive distributor network,” Rob Smith, Agco Senior Vice President and General Manager, Europe, Africa and Middle East.

“We understand the risks of getting it wrong and the rewards of getting it right – for us, for our clients and for the communities we work in,” Lorenzo Tencati, Executive Director of Bryanston Resources.

“Kingsmead College is a proudly South African school that believes in what the Homecoming Revolution is striving for: to bring talented people home to South Africa to make a difference to our beautiful country,” Lisa Kaplan, Headmistress of Kingsmead College.

“Hilton College will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2022. We, like  Homecoming Revolution, look forward to welcoming top global African talent back home to South Africa to Hilton College. We are proud to partner with Homecoming Revolution, and warmly invite prospective pupils and their families to visit our school,”  Keith Fairweather, Director of Marketing at Hilton College.