Professionals, often young and in middle management but increasingly senior executives too, are leaving, adding to a skills shortage that is already acute. Even though the global financial crisis is cutting job opportunities abroad - prompting some South Africans to consider moving home to take them up - at least eight top-level executives at listed companies have resigned this year to emigrate. Clothing retailer Truworths said in October 2008 its financial director Wayne van der Merwe was relocating with his family to Australia, while wealth and asset management group Peregrine Holdings Ltd said in September 2008 its chief executive Keith Betty was moving to Australia. The chief financial officer of chemical and explosives firm AECI emigrated after his 12-year-old daughter was shot in a robbery. And retail giant Massmart has reported a flight of senior management at the firm. A property barometer by First National Bank released in October 2008 showed 18% of people selling their houses in the third quarter were doing so because they were emigrating, up from 9% in the fourth quarter of 2007. For many, the main worry is South Africa's shockingly high crime levels. An average of 50 people are murdered every day, according to the 2008 government crime report, with robberies, break-ins and hold-ups at businesses up almost 50%. "In most instances I think the fundamental reason for leaving is violent crime," said Azar Jammine, chief economist at Econometrix.
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2 comments:
Violent crime is a massive problem in South Africa and is spreading around the country. Why beat up and rape an old defenseless woman when she is being robbed?
The death penalty should be restored in South Africa for murderers and rapists
I agree with you 100%. Let's hope the South Africans get some sense and bring back the death penalty.
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