If you immigrate here or are thinking about it, you might want to understand some rugby history.

Reverend George Ogilvie is credited with bringing football to SA. He was principal at Diocesan College in Rondebosch. Football developed into rugby. Sides were named ‘Town v Suburbs’, Civil servants v All comers or ‘Home v Colonial-born’ etc. etc. but the first game took place on 21st August 1862 between the Army and the Civil service.

You should know where the curry cup came from. It's like this. A British captain brought with him a gold cup which had been a gift from the late Sir Donald Currie, the founder of the Union Castle Steamship line to South Africa with instructions to give it to the centre putting up the best game during the tour. it's debatable over who really won first Curry Cup.

In 1906, international rugby was gaining poplularity. SA rugby needed its own persona. The manager of the 1906 league John “Daddy” Carden announced "The team’s colours will be myrtle green jerseys with gold collar. They would wear dark blue shorts and dark blue stockings and the jersey would have been embroidered in mouse-coloured silk on the left breast a springbok, a small African antelope…” So that's why the jerseys are green with the Springbok.

During the apartheid era, teams were racially segregated. South Africa was banned from rugby in the early 1980's. By 1992, a new non -racial rugby board was formed.

Nelson Mandela was released from prison and presented with the challenge to bring all South Africans together. He did this by a show of unity when South Africa won the world cup in 1995. Please see the film "Invictus" . Please call me at New World Immigration to talk visas and cricket or soccer. I can help you with your visa and learn something about your sport.

Immigrating to South Africa can be less stressful if you plan ahead. Here are some tips for handling your pets so you have one less thing to worry about. The movement of pets into South Africa is strictly controlled. No matter where you are coming from, you should contact a pet travel service and notify your vet. South Africa requires an import travel permit. Pet travel services can offer a door to door service and know which airlines are pet friendly. They can advise you on the proper travel crate or box, and what health records and test results you will need. They specialize in making sure animals travel to the highest ethical and safety standards. You can go online and get a quote from these professional services. They all recommend having you pet micro chipped, getting the rabies vaccine(which needs to be done months in advance), holding complete health records, and knowing the travel guidelines.

I found a nice site called www.globalpaws.co.za offering peace of mind and a wealth of industry knowledge. You can also buy travel collars that emit a stress relieving pheromone for the duration of the trip. You will need a proper crate and need to know you pets weight and the crate dimensions. Contact : Department of Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries Postal Address: Private Bag X138, Pretoria, 0001 Delpen Building, c/o Annie Botha and Union Street, Riviera, 0084 Tel: +27 12 319 7514 for the latest pet travel regulations into South Africa. We here at New World Immigration would be happy to put you in touch with great pet travel providers. Give us a call.

The change in vibe is almost tangible. Hustling and bustling through Johannesburg traffic is no easy task…almost forgotten how one needs to duck and dive between lanes to survive here. Ag, not another obnoxious driver cutting into my lane…I’ve had to make place for at least four of them this afternoon alone! Patience and tolerance are simply nonexistent virtues that one can expect from these Johannesburgers. My mercury was rising as my sweaty palms were revealing my anxiousness in anticipation of the next “Kamakazi Driver” looking to take a gap. Stopping momentous at a red robot, I put on my Blackberry head phone in the hope of searching for some sanctity, somewhere in this insane maze…what’s wrong with these people!

Suddenly my old friends soothing voice blocked out the madness. “ I see trees of green…red roses too, I see them bloom for me and you… and I said to myself what a wonderful world…

And, just for a moment, as I was listening to this great song…everything became different, as I started noticing a homeless man feeding pigeons on a sidewalk. A lovely woman hugging her loved one at a bus shelter…” I see friends shakin hands say’n how do you do…what a wonderful world…”

I’m on special assignment in Jozi, graced with an opportunity to source new business in the GDP capital of South Africa, financial capital of the African continent. A self ordained world class city boasting to be the financial hub of our beautiful country…of Africa. So why, as I’m driving through “Down Town Jozi ” as my American colleague has taught me to say, do I feel this place to be totally crazy… I’ve migrated temporarily, to a different province and a different city. Feeling like the Green Hooded legend, taking money from the rich and feeding it to my poorer province…

Likewise, I realised, just as I’m on a “micro mission” in sourcing for a better a outcome for our company, equally, immigrants from all over the globe have the same objective… to find a better outcome in greener pastures elsewhere for their poorer kin…all in an honest day’s work. New World Immigration…facilitates your pathway to greener pastures.

From the desk of… Huge

New World Immigration – South Africa

Tel: +2721 5550951

Fax: 086 510 0774

I have been driving here for a year now and notice many unsafe dealings on the road everyday, but a couple of things stand out. One is the lack of bike lanes or non motorized transport lanes. Two is how children and infants are commonly not buckled into a seatbelt or car seat.

I commend the City of Cape Town for its project involving Albert Road going into the Cape Town city centre. It acts as a main entry from the Southern Suburbs into the city. Many cycle organizations front project like this with the goal of providing both safe and accessible cycle lanes for everyone. It's no easy task, but it should be talked about.

Seeing children loose in a vehicle freaks me out. I admit, I come from Seattle where you wait until the light turns green to cross the street or you fear getting fined. We look like idiots standing there with no cars coming from each direction, but we know there is always a cop waiting to give you a ticket if you break the law. It is pretty basic to put a seatbelt into a vehicle or a booster seat. I understand this can be costly and maybe there isn't room, but I'm not sure if it's illegal or not to not have a child buckled in. Increasing awareness on this will reduce fatalities. Ejection from a vehicle is one of the most injurious events that can happen to a person in a crash, with 75% of all vehicle occupants ejected from a vehicle in a crash dying as a result. - See more at: www.arrivealive.co.za.

If you immigrate to or visit South Africa and plan to drive here, you will have to adjust your expectations regarding driving safety depending on where you come from. It can be a bit of an obstacle course. People will have kids jumping around the car, cyclists will seem too close for comfort, but give them room, and avoid pedestrians running in front of you.

Synergy to the word Immigration is relocation, movement, exodus, resettlement and perhaps journey. South Africa is a land of great opportunity for many migrants mostly, from up in deep- dark Africa where the understanding for a free enterprise, fiscal discipline and democracy is not well grasped. This in turn has an adverse effect on their economy which leads to chaos, poverty, famine and war – in contrast, and fortunately South Africa and the controlling system that have been entrenched here are difficult to undermine. We can thank our lucky stars that our constitution, media freedom and structures allow for so much transparency and our auditing systems regulating our taxation expenditure are checked and cross-checked.

Notwithstanding this it still becomes possible for a Presidents house to be refurbished at taxpayers expense to the tune of R206 million. Pravin Gordhan is perceived as a very intellectual man and you and I both know that South Africa’s GDP had not achieved the desired growth. The Honourable Minister Pravin Gordhan really only has two revenue streams he can derive taxes from – inbound revenue, which now has not achieved the targeted growth and the other revenue stream comes from SA’s hard working, economically active work force. The latter now having to have to pay for the needed growth in taxation – no doubt we’ll be told via VAT or personal tax of an eminent increase - what else does our President need at his humble abode built in the middle of nowhere, where no growth of property is evident – wasted taxpayer money.

At New World Immigration we understand that South Africa is a prime destination regardless of a few ministers displaying a third world mentality toward supplying safe towns, good roads, hospitals, schools and a decent public transport system and services. We thank you Minister Pravin Gordon and the message from us at New World Immigration is - the more unhappy you make the mere 7-8 million employed people trying to sustain the 12 million unemployed and grantees being paid monthly – the more people are understanding that this is not sustainable business model and will leave South Africa hence, the brain drain…and the more money we’ll be making helping them to Immigrate to greener pastures.

From the desk of… Huge

New World Immigration – South Africa

Tel: +2721 5550951

Fax: 086 510 0774

email: eugene@nwisouthafrica.co.za

web : www.nwisouthafrica.co.za

I have loved beef jerky since I could remember. In the US it come in many forms, but you have to really know where to get the good stuff. Maybe you are from South Africa and only know Biltong. I will get to that in a moment. Jerky is strips of beef typically shaped to the cut of the beef. The beef is dried with salt and spices. The real original jerky is hard to find. Proper jerky is lightly spiced and really tough to chew. The fat is usually trimmed off which helps preserve it and is why it will be more dense and chewy. It takes a while. You get your money's worth. It is medium to thick cut and comes in naturally shaped pieces. While beef is used primarily in the US, I have seen deer, moose, elk, and bison jerky.

Then I arrived in South Africa and learned that Biltong is taken very seriously and is the pride of SA. It's my new favorite snack here and is believed to have originated with early Dutch settlers in South Africa and possibly with native Africans. Biltong is cured with vinegar and spices and then dried. The bits of meat are in different shapes, usually thicker sliced than jerky and with the fatty pieces left on. You get this succulent, not too salty rich flavor that is unlike jerky of the US. It tastes fresh and more meaty than its jerky counterpart. It is also less sweet than jerky. I must say, if you wish to travel to SA, you must try Biltong! If you are a foodie, then grab a visit visa and come over. Call New World Immigration and ask me where to find bil ("rump") and tong ("strip" or "tongue"), Biltong!

I’m not one to judge anyone until a fair trial has been heard and justice has run it’s course but sentiment does have it that the circumstances of this murder scene are strange and circumspect for the beleaguered Oscar Pistorius. Once, the epitome of focus and inspiration, Oscar Pistorius was graced with awe and admiration by millions globally and nationally here in South Africa. Likewise, inspiring hope for so many disabled and abled people. As has been the unfortunate case with previously disgraced public figures as Hansie Cronjè, Toni Yengeni, Winni Madikizele-Mandela who all took for granted the high regard the public had for them, I think Oscar has now come to realise the fragility of that position. What is it about fame that people can’t handle…the typical arrogance that always follows when too much attention is derived from the public at large? As history has proved time and time again…with such high levels of devotion comes so much more responsibility one needs to display toward fellow human beings…the people who actually put you there? Interesting to note that Carl Pistorius, the brother of Oscar is also up for Culpable Homicide for also causing the death of a woman in a car crash in 2010…fate, genetic or by design?

Should we be approached for a Visa at New World Immigration by any such unsavoury character, we would probably go out of our way to help them leave this country. You see, we cherish core values such as Respect, Honesty, Transparency, The right to Life, Fairness and Equality for all our people in South Africa and this anchor’s my belief that there still is a tiny ray of hope…

From the desk of… Huge

New World Immigration – South Africa

Tel: +2721 5550951

Fax: 086 510 0774

email: eugene@nwisouthafrica.co.za

web : www.nwisouthafrica.co.za

Earlier in the week I discussed how to open a business in South Africa if you are a foreign business owner. The Egyptian Ambassador to South Africa Mr Sherif Naguib has recently urged the South African and Egyptian business communities to take advantage of the cordial relations that exist between the two countries to consider working together, in order to increase trade and investment between Egypt and South Africa. He stated that “South Africa and Egypt have created a conducive political environment for business to operate in. The onus rests with businesspeople from our countries to explore the multiple business opportunities that exist by establishing joint ventures and investing in various sectors of our respective economies." This began in 2010 when Jacob Zuma paid a visit and focused on the need for a common platform for businesses of both countries to meet.

There is also an ongoing discussion for a free-trade zone between Cape Town and Cairo. Likely business sectors to be affected are agriculture and agro-processing, building, construction, chemical and allied industries and investment, information communication technology, telecommunications and tourism. If you are an Egyptian company and have questions regarding expanding your business or trade here in South Africa, give us a call at New World Immigration.

As a bright orange sun is swallowed slowly by a green and restless sea, until it eventually disappears from my horizon, I sit on my stoep and ponder the day’s toil. In the background Roxy and Sandy are chewing vigorously away at their sinew bones I bought them, reminding me that this is home to them…to me. And while my thoughts are churning through enquiry after enquiry we had received today and had to fend, quantify and validate, hundreds of hopeful migrants, seeking their new horizons here in South Africa and likewise many South Africans wanting to settle far, far away in Australia. As the cool of my Rosè trickles down my throat I came to realise that there are so many people with a change of heart…

At NEW WORLD IMMIGRATION it’s a company policy to provide top notch service levels to immigrants/clients and that sets us apart from the industry standard. It’s really all about considering the change in heart, the change of a country, culture and norms of each migrant, realising the need to accommodate these very changes that often can be tumultuous in nature. So, Mr and Ms Migrant we sincerely would like to extend you a warm welcome to sunny South Africa and also to always be assured of our heartfelt thanks for your kind patronage.

From the desk of… Huge

New World Immigration – South Africa

Tel: +2721 5550951

Fax: 086 510 0774

Email: eugene@nwisouthafrica.co.za

web : www.nwisouthafrica.co.za

Oscar nominee for the documentary "Searching for Sugar Man," has drawn worldwide praise for the film's star, Detroit folk singer Rodriguez, and the film's Swedish directors. I'm from the US and didn't know who Rodriquez was until I saw the film. It's an epic story about a ghost of a man who was famous here in South Africa and never knew it. More famous than the Beetles even. Now he performs sold out concerts to fans who always knew and loved his music. It got me thinking about retiring in South Africa. Shouldn't one retire somewhere beautiful or where their hearts lie?

Maybe Rodriguez's heart is always going to be in Detroit? But I'm sure South Africans would welcome him as one of their own. If you know someone who loves the sun, ocean, wildlife, and a vibrant lifestyle, then ask them to consider retiring in South Africa. With many things to attract people of all ages and nationalities to relocate to live in South Africa, there are also a number of things that retirees in particular should take into account when considering this particular nation. These include residency requirements, health care, opportunities for income generation and investment opportunities, and overall lifestyle. Ask the nice folks at New World Immigration and we will guide you. We wish "Searching for Sugar Man" the best of luck at the Oscars.