Reliable and up-to-date emigration data are generally hard to find. This is particularly true for the South African scenario (Höppli, 2014:4). The number of South Africans residing in 31 countries increased from 435 000 in 2000 to 820 000 in 2017, implying an average of 23,000 people leaving South Africa annually (Buckham, 2019).
This results in a growing generation of parents having to adapt their lives to include their children and grandchildren not living nearby and being part of a transnational family.
I am continuously and passionately researching emigration, especially in the South African context, and the effects on intergenerational relationships in families. I share this knowledge via articles, conferences and workshops to create awareness among the general public about this ever-increasing phenomenon.