Stay or leave?

In this interview, Richman contributes to the long-running South African ‘Should-I-stay, should-I-go’ debate.

What motivated the book?

I spent a year living in Sydney in 2005. I thought it was an amazing, exciting city and I enjoyed myself tremendously, but when I got off the plane at Cape Town airport on my return I felt a genuine feeling of elation, like I belonged here. Later, when brainstorming ideas for new books with my boss, Daniel Ford, we got on to the topic. He’s an expat from the UK who loves it here, and we both agreed that there is a lot of negativity about living in South Africa and not enough positive public sentiment. We thought we’d do our bit to change that a little.

Does that mean you think South Africa is the best place in the world in which to live?

For me, at the moment, yes. Of course, an answer like that is a subjective one – and the “I” in the title of the book hopefully conveys the point that we are dealing in opinion. But it is important to get opinions from both sides of the argument, and Dan and I felt that the pro-South Africa opinion has been under-represented of late. South Africans can be quick to whinge and it’s easy to forget just how good we have it here.

Do we really have it that good here? Many people would disagree, especially considering the many First World cities across the globe?

If you take a look at one of the quality-of-living surveys that they seem to undertake annually, you’ll find cities like Zurich and Geneva at the top of the pile. According to a Mercer Human Resource Consulting survey, in 2006 Vancouver was third, Auckland fifth and Sydney ninth. And yes, from an objective point of view, these surveys have merit. But they ignore individual priorities, which vary widely. I’ve lived in those last three cities, and from my point of view the order is wrong – and Cape Town ranks above them.

Our intention in publishing Why I’ll Never Live In Oz Again was not to say that people who emigrate are wrong or foolish; it was to celebrate the fact that those who live in South Africa can be right too, and should be happy with their decision to live here.

What’s your opinion on those expats who argue vociferously that South Africa is doomed?

I’ve got no problem with people who’ve chosen to emigrate, whatever their reasoning, but the offensive ones who go on about how bad it is back home do become annoying. I got a fair bit of that in Australia and New Zealand. And you don’t have to travel overseas to know what I’m talking about – just trawl through some online forums on SA emigration; you’ll find some really nasty, one-eyed invective in there. My line of thinking is if you want to leave, fine, I respect your decision, but if you’ve got nothing constructive to say about my decision to stay here, please take your bitterness elsewhere.

But why does this “bitterness” exist? Why are so many expats still online and talking about South Africa?

A couple of reasons. Firstly, I think that many South African expats genuinely believe they’ve had no choice but to emigrate. They feel they’ve been chased away by an uncaring government that doesn’t represent them, because they feared for their safety, because they couldn’t find work. They are upset that they had to go. But they still love South Africa and, I suspect, they’d come back if the “situation” improved.

But there is also an element of justification in the bitterness of expat South Africans, and this is what annoys me. They have to believe they’ve moved to a better life, so they denigrate their previous life – online, at dinner parties, wherever. And they become so self-convinced that they refuse to acknowledge any of the positives they left behind, or the negatives they’ve adopted.

Have you had any criticism since the book was published?

I’m sure there has been lots of criticism from those who say we’re overlooking many major issues or being naïve about South Africa’s prospects or trivial when we discuss the weather. But if you ask me, the weather affects you every single day.

As far as specific criticism goes, I was forwarded an online post from a charming guy called Johan who blasted the authors as losers and mama’s-boy sissies who couldn’t make it overseas, cried ourselves to sleep at night, couldn’t adapt, etc. He was so harsh on us you had to laugh. Of course, it was quickly obvious that he had only read the blurb, had a limited grasp of the concept of irony and that he basically had a whole lot of sand down his pants.

Have you ever considered leaving South Africa for good?

No. I have always enjoyed the idea of living overseas for the experience that it offers, and I would be interested in living elsewhere again. But I’ve always left South Africa with the intention of returning.

What would be the tipping point that might change that?

A Zimbabwe-style meltdown would do the trick. If we had a Mugabe in power — senile and uncontrollable — then I think I would have no choice but to go. But I really cannot see that happening here. Violent crime is also an issue. What is the straw that breaks the camel’s back? I cannot say, and I obviously hope that I won’t have to.

What is the one thing you love most about South Africa?

There really are so many things to choose from. The energy, the vibe – that’s probably the sole defining thing. But the times I appreciate living here the most are when I’m up in the mountain or on the beach, especially if I’ve come straight from the office. Makes work a breeze.

Why I’ll Never Live In Oz Again (Two Dogs) sells for R100 and is available through bookstores and on the internet. Visit www.twodogs.co.za for more information.