Farrarmere family opts out of crime-ridden SA for a better future
The family said they have been robbed 14 times.
Feeling unsafe because of the high crime rate has led the Wynne-Jones family of Farramere to emigrate.
They jet off to New Zealand next month, hoping for a better and safer future.
Since the family arrived in Benoni, Marlien Wynne-Jones said they have been robbed 14 times.
“It was so traumatic. My former husband and I were involved in two criminal attacks in one day. The first happened at about 07:00 when our Ford Ranger was broken into and our wallets and money stolen.
“We then went to a bank in Northmead to apply for temporary bank cards and withdrew money because we planned to go on holiday.
“We proceeded to a clothing store in Boksburg, but while we were shopping, I found myself staring down the barrel of a gun.”
Marlien said she, her husband and the staff were taken to the back room, where they were tied up and assaulted. The robbers fled with her wedding ring, bank cards and cash.
The 42-year-old, who grew up in Kempton Park and moved to Benoni in 1998 when she married, said she has had her fair share of crime and is fed up.
The mother of four said her love for New Zealand sparked in June 2014 when the family visited friends and relatives there.
“I fell in love with the culture, people, lifestyle and how safe everything is. The mutual respect people have for each other’s belongings attracted me. While there, I noticed how free people are in public. They don’t look over their shoulders all the time. The integrity of that country is amazing.”
Marlien shared that though they are relieved and excited to leave the country, the emigration process was stressful.
“Emigrating is expensive. For a family of four, airline tickets cost about R97 000, medical examinations, which we must do, are R10 300 and visas R38 000.
“We sold all our assets, only holding onto essentials like a washing machine, vehicle and beds, until we receive our visas.”
Marlien and her husband have secured employment in New Zealand.
Migration profile report
The Wynne-Jones family are one of thousands of SA families emigrating, with no plans to return.
According to a Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) migration profile report, the number of SA citizens living abroad showed fluctuations in sex ratios, with consistent growth overall.
The stats revealed that the United Kingdom, Australia and America were favoured destinations for SA citizens residing abroad, demonstrating a significant increase in their populations.
Emigration for study purposes saw a steady rise in the number of students studying abroad.
However, involuntary emigration, particularly the refugee population, showed significant changes over time, with fluctuating numbers indicating the sensitivity of such migration.
The destinations for SA asylum seekers shifted across countries from 2021 to 2022, reflecting changes in asylum-seeking patterns.
New Zealand saw a substantial rise in SA emigrants, from 25 359 in 2000 to 73 846 in 2020.
Canada also became a destination of choice, with SA emigrants increasing from 36 949 in 2000 to 48 093 in 2020.
Also Read: How family migrations affect the elderly left behind
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