The Relocated South African | Emigration stories

When Merle-Louise first arrived in Malta, she wanted to get straight back on the plane. Fifteen years later, she can't imagine calling anywhere else home.
After building a successful career in hospitality, event management and running her own conference business in South Africa, Merle-Louise faced difficult business challenges that ultimately led her to consider a new chapter overseas. What began as a reluctant move has become a passionate mission to help other South Africans discover opportunities on one of Europe's best-kept secrets.
Today, through MaltaLifestyle.com and the South African Family & Friends in Malta community, she assists South Africans looking to relocate, study, work or retire in Malta, while helping them navigate the practical and emotional realities of starting over.
In this episode, we explore why Malta has become an increasingly attractive destination for South Africans, its thriving financial services, gaming, aviation and tourism industries, residency options, healthcare, education, property, safety and quality of life.
We also discuss one of the biggest challenges of emigration—making the decision itself. Merle-Louise shares practical advice on preparing for a move, avoiding common mistakes, embracing change, and why success abroad begins long before you board the plane.
Whether you're actively considering emigration or simply curious about life in the Mediterranean, this conversation is packed with practical insights and honest advice.
"Success has to be intentional. We can't wait for somebody else to make up their mind for us."
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For over 30 years Sable International has offered seamless solutions that simplify the complexities of cross-border movement and financial management, so that you can focus on what matters most – building your future beyond borders.
Find out how Sable International can support your journey:
https://bit.ly/3R3g1sy
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TIMESTAMPS
00:06 – Introducing Merle-Louise and life in Malta
02:13 – Growing up in South Africa and building an events business
04:50 – Why she left South Africa
06:18 – First impressions of Malta
07:55 – Flying to Malta and its location in Europe
10:07 – Tourism, history and why Malta is unique
11:38 – Why Malta became home
15:10 – The importance of integrating into your new country
17:13 – Preparing properly before emigrating
18:17 – Should you leave a back door open?
20:32 – What South Africans struggle with most overseas
22:04 – Is Malta still a good option?
25:50 – Residency, citizenship and permanent residence
28:40 – Cost of living, rentals and healthcare
30:25 – What she misses about South Africa
32:25 – Helping young South Africans build international careers
35:34 – The emotional price of emigration
39:07 – Advice for anyone considering a move abroad
41:36 – Would she ever return to South Africa?
Connect with Merle-Louise
🌍 Website: www.maltalifestyle.com
Facebook: South African Family & Friends in Malta (SAFF Malta)
Connect with The Relocated South African
🌍 Website:
www.therelocatedsouthafrican.com
🎙️ Listen on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
If Merle-Louise's story inspired you, please share this episode with someone considering a move abroad—or anyone curious about life in Malta, one of Europe's hidden gems.

Most South African doctors leave. Dr. Casper Joubert did the opposite.
After qualifying at Stellenbosch University, Casper and his wife—also a doctor—built successful medical careers in Dubai before moving to Mauritius. Like many South African professionals, they embraced the opportunities that came with working overseas.
But after more than a decade abroad, they made a surprising decision.
They came home.
Today, Casper is completing his specialist training in Occupational Medicine at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, where he believes South Africa still offers some of the best medical training and greatest opportunities to make a meaningful difference.
In this conversation we discuss life as a doctor in Dubai, practicing medicine in Mauritius, the realities of working in different healthcare systems, why South African doctors are so highly regarded around the world, and the emotional journey of returning home after more than ten years abroad.
Most importantly, Casper explains why he believes young South African professionals should travel the world—not to run away from South Africa, but to broaden their horizons before deciding where they truly belong.
It's an honest, balanced conversation about career, purpose, perspective and what "coming home" really means.
"If you've got the opportunity to go, go—but run towards something, not away from something."
___________________________________________________________
For over 30 years Sable International has offered seamless solutions that simplify the complexities of cross-border movement and financial management, so that you can focus on what matters most – building your future beyond borders.
Find out how Sable International can support your journey:
https://bit.ly/3R3g1sy
______________________________________________________________
Timestamps
00:10 – Introducing Dr. Casper Joubert
01:20 – Growing up and studying medicine at Stellenbosch
02:30 – Why he left South Africa for Dubai
05:30 – Building a medical career in the Middle East
09:10 – Living and working in Dubai
13:20 – Cost of living and life as an expat doctor
19:30 – Moving to Mauritius
23:20 – Living through COVID in Mauritius
25:20 – Why the family returned to South Africa
27:45 – What Occupational Medicine actually is
29:20 – South African doctors on the world stage
33:20 – Advice for young doctors considering emigration
36:20 – Readjusting to life back in South Africa

Contact Casper
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casper-joubert-a45836ab/
The Relocated South African
🌍 Website
www.therelocatedsouthafrican.com
🎙️ Available on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
If Casper's story resonated with you, please share this episode with someone considering a career overseas—or someone wondering whether coming home is still an option.

What happens when opportunity knocks later in life? Do you stay where you're comfortable—or do you take the leap?
For Wendy Minnie and her family, the answer was clear.
After successful careers in South Africa, Wendy and her husband spent more than a year researching life in the Netherlands before making one of the biggest decisions of their lives. With a teenage son, adult daughters, and decades of life already established in South Africa, this wasn't a decision made lightly.
Today, Wendy works for Heineken in the Netherlands, where she has embraced a truly global career while discovering the realities of learning a new culture, adapting to Dutch life, and building a future in Europe.
In this episode, we talk about relocating as an established professional, raising teenagers abroad, navigating the Dutch education system, buying a home, work-life balance, cost of living, learning Dutch, and why South Africans have earned a reputation for being some of the hardest-working people in the world.
This is an honest conversation about courage, preparation, family, and proving that it's never too late to start a new chapter.
"If you've got the opportunity and there's a part of you that's curious to know what life could be like somewhere else, take the jump. And if it doesn't work out, you can always go home."
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For over 30 years, Sable International has helped South Africans navigate visas, immigration, citizenship, foreign exchange and international financial planning.
Whether you're planning your move abroad or already living overseas, Sable International has the expertise to help make your journey easier.
Find out more:
https://bit.ly/3R3g1sy
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Timestamps
00:10 – Introducing Wendy Minnie
00:54 – Growing up in Cape Town and Pretoria
02:00 – Why the family chose the Netherlands
03:30 – Joining Heineken after Distell
05:00 – Schooling, learning Dutch and settling in
07:30 – Language, culture and everyday life
08:30 – Visas, relocation and Dutch bureaucracy
11:20 – Choosing where to live in the Netherlands
12:45 – Working for a global company
14:20 – Do South Africans work harder?
16:00 – Why they decided to emigrate
18:20 – Family, adult children and opportunity
19:10 – Residency and Dutch citizenship
20:30 – The emotional first six months
25:00 – Cycling, commuting and Dutch life
26:15 – Cost of living in the Netherlands
31:15 – Housing and buying a home
33:20 – What Wendy misses most about South Africa
36:20 – Would she do anything differently?
38:10 – Advice for South Africans considering the move

🌍 Website:
www.therelocatedsouthafrican.com
🎙️ Listen on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
If Wendy's journey resonated with you, please share this episode with someone considering a move abroad. Your support helps more South Africans around the world discover stories, insights and practical advice from people who have already taken the leap.

When Berilyn Teeling moved from South Africa to Ireland, she wasn't just looking for a better life—she ended up creating one of Ireland's largest celebrations of South African culture.
After growing up in Johannesburg, spending a year as an exchange student in Paraguay and later marrying into an Irish family, Berilyn and her husband made the bold decision to relocate to Ireland with their young son and just three suitcases.
Finding work during a recession wasn't easy, but through determination, resilience and a willingness to start again, they built a new life in County Wicklow.
Today, Berilyn is best known as the founder of The South African Gathering—an annual event that brings together more than 1,500 South Africans from across Ireland to celebrate their heritage, reconnect with old friends and support South African businesses.
In this episode we discuss the realities of starting over, raising children abroad, adapting to Irish life, finding work during difficult times, the cost of living, healthcare, and why maintaining your South African identity can be just as important as integrating into your new country.
It's an uplifting conversation about community, belonging and proving that home isn't always a place—sometimes it's the people you bring together.
"I wanted everyone to come out, have a good day, and just celebrate being South African for a day."
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For over 30 years Sable International has offered seamless solutions that simplify the complexities of cross-border movement and financial management, so that you can focus on what matters most – building your future beyond borders.
Find out how Sable International can support your journey:
https://bit.ly/3R3g1sy
_______________________________________________________________

Time stamps
00:06 – Introducing Berilyn Teeling
00:57 – Growing up in Johannesburg
02:54 – Marriage, Ireland and taking the leap abroad
05:42 – Starting over with three suitcases
10:01 – Why Wicklow became home
11:51 – Finding work during Ireland's recession
16:27 – Adjusting to Irish weather and culture
19:16 – The story behind The South African Gathering
22:42 – From 200 people to more than 1,500 attendees
24:45 – Supporting South African businesses in Ireland
27:19 – Feeling South African while building a life abroad
28:42 – Family, parents and living across continents
34:40 – What makes Ireland such a great place to live
37:26 – The cost of living in Ireland
40:06 – Healthcare and everyday life
41:22 – Any regrets?
42:11 – Advice for South Africans considering Ireland

🇿🇦 South African Gathering
Facebook: South African Gathering Ireland
Website: https://www.sagathering.ie/

Podcast:
Website:⁠www.therelocatedsouthafrican.com

The Relocated South African – available on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
If Berilyn's story inspired you, please share this episode with someone considering a move to Ireland—or someone who simply wants to stay connected to their South African roots.

From Cape Town to Brazil... and now Bali.
Janlo van den Heever has never been afraid to challenge conventional thinking.
After building a successful career with Red Bull in South Africa, he relocated to São Paulo, Brazil, before returning home to be closer to family. But the experience had changed him. He immersed himself in startups, technology, cryptocurrency and remote work, eventually asking a bigger question:
If work is no longer tied to a location, why should life be?
Today, Janlo, his wife and two daughters are building a new life in Bali, embracing a slower pace, homeschooling their children and creating businesses that allow them to work from anywhere.
In this conversation we discuss life in Brazil, why they chose Southeast Asia over Europe, raising children abroad, the future of remote work, cost of living, healthcare, crypto, AI, and why South Africans should future-proof their skills in an increasingly global economy.
It's a fascinating conversation about challenging assumptions, embracing change and intentionally designing the life you want.
"The biggest thing standing in the way of South Africans being successful around the world is staying in South Africa."
_______________________________________________________________
For over 30 years Sable International has offered seamless solutions that simplify the complexities of cross-border movement and financial management, so that you can focus on what matters most – building your future beyond borders.
Find out how Sable International can support your journey:
https://bit.ly/3R3g1sy
______________________________________________________________
Timestamps
00:11 – Introducing Janlo van den Heever
00:56 – Growing up in Pretoria
03:22 – Life with Red Bull and moving to Brazil
07:04 – Living in São Paulo and raising their first child
08:48 – Healthcare in Brazil
10:11 – Returning to South Africa
13:32 – Discovering startups, crypto and remote work
18:57 – Why the family chose Bali
20:24 – South Africa, safety and raising children
23:01 – Why Bali feels so different
26:48 – Cost of living in Bali
29:48 – Residency and visas
30:31 – Homeschooling and family life
32:31 – Healthcare in Indonesia
33:34 – Building a new community
35:46 – What he misses about South Africa
37:32 – Advice for South Africans considering life abroad
Connect with Janlo:
🌐 Website: janlo.xyz
💼 LinkedIn: Janlo van den Heever
Website:
www.therelocatedsouthafrican.com
Connect with the Podcast:
The Relocated South African – available on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
If Janlo's story resonated with you, please share this episode with someone interested in remote work, raising a family abroad, or building a location-independent life.