South Africa

Today I have a lady customer from South Africa, she was here in Singapore for 3 days and will be going to stay in Australia for 1 months. She is migrating to Australia as soon as she settle her business in South Africa.

She was born in South Africa, she has Guest House business there. Her husband own a Guest House business before their marriage, she has another Guest House called her own eventually. They have built up the business 20 years together. One Guest House has grown from 5 bedroom to 18 bedroom, accomplished with shopping area, restaurant, and swimming pool. She love South Africa, so why they want to sell away their business and migrate to another strange land?

She said, nowaday, the South Africa government ruled that the white people has to give away 3-5% of their company shares to the native black, and let them involved in their business, otherwise, they can't run the business. Because the black think that what belong to the white should belong to the black.

She was very upset about the changes in this ruling. She said this is their own business they have built from scatch. When she was young, her family was very poor. She felt the ruling is not fair and it is the black discriminate the white rather vice versa. She said nowadays, a lot of white are considering moving out of South Africa.

She managed to sell away her business for 3.5 millions. She said they took almost 1 years to get the approval from the Australian government.
The Australian government welcome either talented people or wealthy people to settle in Australia. They don't have talent, but they have 1.3 millions Australian dollars for investment, they are qualified. They applied and waited for the approval for almost 1 year. She estimated from application, selling their business in South Africa, and finally settle in Australia, will take about 2 years. They intend to travel around Australia for at least 6 months before they will decide what business to take.

She wanted to buy an apartment for her daughter, and then, they will buy an apartment for themself.

Although her future still very bright, but what I see in her now : she is angry and sad. But live still has to move on............................