The Relocated South African | Emigration stories

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
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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."
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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
______________________________________________________________
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.

Duncan Goldsmith made the life-changing decision to leave South Africa in 1986—long before emigration became commonplace. Nearly four decades later, he reflects on what it really takes to build a successful life abroad.
Born and raised in Port Elizabeth, Duncan began his career in banking before an opportunity in information technology opened the door to Australia. Arriving in Melbourne with his wife, two young children and little more than determination, he embraced a country that would eventually become home.
In this candid conversation, Duncan shares the realities of emigrating before Facebook, WhatsApp and South African expat communities existed. There were no soft landings, no biltong shops and no online groups to answer questions—just the determination to make it work.
We discuss the emotional cost of leaving family behind, adapting to a new culture, raising children in a different country, Australia's work ethic, cost of living, healthcare, taxes and why many South Africans struggle because they're trying to recreate the country they left.
Whether you're considering Australia or already living abroad, Duncan's advice is practical, honest and shaped by nearly 40 years of experience.
"If you're looking for South Africa in Australia, you'll be disappointed. Come with an open mind and make Australia your home."
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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
_______________________________________________________________
TIMESTAMPS
00:01 – Introducing Duncan Goldsmith
00:30 – Growing up in Port Elizabeth
02:50 – Why he emigrated to Australia in 1986
05:38 – The emotional challenge of leaving family behind
09:02 – Parents, grandchildren and life across continents
14:07 – Why going back was never an option
15:30 – Starting over without a South African community
17:00 – The biggest mistakes South Africans make in Australia
20:24 – Why Melbourne became home
24:58 – Cost of living and buying property
30:37 – Healthcare, taxes and getting value for your money
34:20 – Do South Africans really move back?
37:00 – Practical advice for new migrants
39:30 – Safety in Australia today
41:30 – Should you visit before emigrating?
43:40 – Marriage, teamwork and adapting overseas
44:50 – Boks vs Wallabies: Who does he support?
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Your documents should not slow down your new life.
Apostil obtains, processes and couriers South African police clearances, apostille certificates, unabridged documents and more, directly to your door, anywhere in the world.
Fast, professional and stress-free.
Need your documents sorted? Visit Apostil here:
https://tinyurl.com/apostilcoza
Documents with convenience.
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Connect with the podcast
Website: www.therelocatedsouthafrican.com
Podcast: The Relocated South African — available on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
If Duncan's story resonated with you, please share this episode with another South African considering a move to Australia—or anyone interested in what it really takes to build a successful life abroad.

Crime novelist, screenwriter and creative writing graduate James Fouché has swapped Cape Town for central China, where he's beginning a completely new chapter—not only in his career, but in his family's life.
After years of building businesses in South Africa, publishing crime novels and teaching online, James made the leap to China to teach English at a medical university. His wife and three homeschooled children will soon join him, turning what began as a solo adventure into a family relocation.
In this conversation, James shares what it's really like living in a part of China where almost nobody speaks English, adapting to a completely different culture, and preparing his family for one of the biggest moves of their lives.
We also dive into his career as a crime writer, why South Africa provides such rich storytelling material, China's remarkable pace of development, and why stepping outside your comfort zone can change your perspective forever.
It's an honest and fascinating conversation about creativity, family, and embracing the unknown.
"It's a big world out there. You're doing your kids a disservice if you keep them in a tiny triangle." — James Fouché
_______________________________________________________________
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
00:01 – Introducing author James Fouché
03:22 – Growing up in Cape Town and becoming a writer
06:14 – Why he moved to China
08:30 – Turning South African crime into compelling fiction
13:48 – Releasing his latest novel Grey
16:22 – First impressions of living in China
18:31 – Preparing his family for the move
19:23 – Learning Chinese and overcoming the language barrier
21:30 – Teaching English at a Chinese university
22:58 – Adapting to Chinese food and culture
24:17 – Finding great coffee in central China
26:45 – China's emerging wine industry
28:29 – The surprisingly low cost of living
31:09 – Teaching at a medical university
32:51 – Chinese bureaucracy and work visas
35:51 – Healthcare and China's rapid development
38:39 – WeChat, Alipay and China's digital society
41:10 – What he misses most about South Africa
43:14 – Is China a long-term move?
45:01 – How living abroad changes your perspective
_______________________________________________________________
Your documents should not slow down your new life.
Apostil obtains, processes and couriers South African police clearances, apostille certificates, unabridged documents and more, directly to your door, anywhere in the world.
Fast, professional and stress-free.
Need your documents sorted? Visit Apostil here:
https://tinyurl.com/apostilcoza
Documents with convenience.
_______________________________________________________________
Connect with James Fouché
🌐 Website: www.jamesfouche.com
📘 Facebook: @JamesFoucheWrites
📷 Instagram: @JamesFoucheWrites

Connect with the podcast
Website: www.therelocatedsouthafrican.com
Podcast: The Relocated South African — available on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
If James' story resonated with you, please share this episode with someone considering life abroad—or anyone curious about living and working in China.