Leaving South Africa – our interview on South East Radio
Recently Athol and I went into South East Radio – the local radio station here in Wexford, Ireland – to be interviewed by Alan Corcoran for his Morning Mix show on what life is like in South Africa.
We spoke about racism, about what we remembered growing up in the 80’s during the apartheid era and what changed in our experience after the first democratic elections of 1994.
We discussed some of the reasons why we moved to Ireland 15 years ago, and talk about what has changed in the time since we’ve left and why South Africa one of the most unequal countries in the world.
Sprawling Tembalethu near George 
Khayalitsha outside Cape Town 
Luxury home in a high security gated estate near Johannesburg 
Luxury home in a high security gated estate near Johannesburg
We have family in South Africa and still go back to visit every two years. We feel it is vital for all of us to maintain our relationships and we really regret the fact that our children are not growing up close to their cousins and grandparents.
We love the country and all it has to offer and are sad that we no longer live there. However, returning to live there simply isn’t an option for us anymore, we have had to make peace with the choices we’ve made for our children. Now we are well settled here in Ireland and are happy to call it home.
Here is the podcast of the whole interview below so that you can listen to it too:
Well done Libs. Very beautifully handled.
Thanks Bronnie, lovely to hear from you!
That’s so cool you did this interview! We’re you nervous about being on air?
Thanks, not really because he prerecorded it so it wasn’t live and also I came into the studio before hand to chat so he set me at ease – he’s a great presenter.