‘My homeland’: Festive season reveals what expats love about SA

2023 was a year that seriously challenged what expats love about SA. Rugby World Cup champions for a fourth time. All you needed was to hear the anthem at a jam-packed stadium in Paris for the final to be reminded about what expats love about SA.

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Now, however, according to a report from The Citizen, an online survey of more than 300 expat social groups has confirmed what expats love about SA. And it’s more than just rugby! Listen up so you don’t take these simple things for granted should you ever leave our borders.

WHAT EXPATS LOVE ABOUT SA

The findings from the survey reveal fascinating insight into expat South Africans. The first revelation is just how many online groups cater to South African expats. This in and of itself shows that there is a lot of support within the international community. And that expats clearly want to stay connected with their homeland.

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Surprise, surprise, the number one thing expats love about SA is rugby. Pretty obvious in a World Cup winning year. The survey says that while many may live abroad, the enjoyment of watching a Springbok game is top of the list when it comes to expressing their national identity.

BEAUTIFUL SOUTH AFRICA

After rugby, what keeps expats still love about SA is the country’s natural beauty. This is a biggest reason that many return to visit SA. Similarly, it’s the reason they recommend it to travelers of other nationalities. South Africa is in fact the number one destination recommended by expats.

• Cape Town – 37%
• Kruger National Park – 17%
• Kwa-Zulu Natal – 11%

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Food wise, what do expats love about SA and miss the most? Biltong (27%) and boerewors (18%) were the runaway winners. The most popular TV shows that have expats nostalgic for home were 7de Laan (27%), Egoli (18%) and Noot Vir Noot (15%).

EXPATS KEEP HOME WITH THEM

To ensure things feel a little more like home, 36% said they braaied as often as possible. 26% said they still use terms like ‘lekker’ and ‘howzit’. There you have it, these are the simple things that expats love about SA. So don’t take them for granted, because you would miss them if they were gone.

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Are you an expat? What do you love about SA even though you’re away? Be sure to share your thoughts with our audience in the comments section below. And don’t forget to follow us @TheSANews on X for the latest updates.

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