Where is the grass greener?

"To this day we continue to lose the best among ourselves because the lights in the developed world shine brighter." - Nelson Mandela on emigration.

For many years, South Africans have been encouraged to move overseas, either by the factors that push them away, such as crime, job shortages or a fear of economic instability, or by the pull factors such as career opportunity, a new experience, increased salary or new challenges elsewhere in the world.

This factor is hugely evident in the IT sector and the impact is vast; however, it's not all bad news.

The "brain drain" in SA started long before the inception of the new government in 1994, and the figures suggest the flow of professionals from this country continues to increase rapidly.

Having said this, however, there are positives around the fact that skilled workers are leaving. Studies have shown that not all of these people leave the country for good. They may go for five or so years, gaining experience in their industry, gaining a greater wealth of understanding of other cultures, perspectives, broadening thoughts and acquiring a deeper understanding of cultures.

They may then come back to SA and bring all these fresh ideas with them, not to mention foreign currency which is then invested into our economy in the property, vehicle, retail and other sectors. Exact figures here haven't yet been established, but a vast majority of these immigrants come back to SA, ready to indulge in all that their beautiful country has to offer them.

With all the power cuts, traffic jams and smash-and-grabs, we seem to forget that SA is indeed on the up and up, as the following statistics show:

* IES 2005/2006 figures show that real per capita incomes of the country's poorest 10% have increased by nearly 80% since the survey was last conducted in 2000.
* SA is becoming a more financially inclusive society, as the proportion of South Africans holding bank accounts rose to 60% in 2007, says the FinScope South Africa 2007 survey.
* SA has ranked 20th in the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index, released in November 2007. The highest ranked African country.
* The 2007 Community survey report showed that informal dwellings have nationally decreased to 14.5% compared to 16.4% in 2001.
* Access to piped water (within 200m of a household) increased from 72.1% in 2001 to 74.4% in 2007. (Community Survey Report)
* Access to electricity has risen from 69.7% in 2001 to 80% in 2007, with almost all households being electrified in the Western Cape (94%). (Community Survey Report)

With all the power cuts, traffic jams and smash-and-grabs, we seem to forget that SA is indeed on the up and up.

Juliette Preston is HR consultant at Recruit IT Solutions

Getting back to the power cuts, one of the biggest influencing factors around them is the huge increase in economic growth. The country is growing too quickly for the infrastructure to keep up - surely this is a good thing? Not a negative "everything's going downhill" factor?

The South African economy has been on an upward spiral for the last six years, and just like with everything in life, it has to be balanced out and this is why there is a bit of a go-slow - it's all natural. Take this for example:

* 1980s - 1% economic growth
* Beginning of the 1990s - SA was technically bankrupt - defined as when national debt is more than 3% of GDP
* In 1994, economic growth rose to 9%
* During Nelson Mandela's presidency, SA had a 2% economic growth
* For the last seven years SA had a 5% growth
* Next year, despite worldwide recession, oil prices and the electricity crisis it will be at 4%

Another thing to think about - with the electricity cuts, less platinum is being mined; however, while it stays in the ground, the price of platinum goes up.

So if things get bad, what do we do? Do we leave the country? Complain everyday, all day? When confronted with a challenge you have two choices of action, you can bury your head in the sand and hope the problem will go away, or tackle the problem head on.

South Africans are known throughout the world as being a resilient nation and despite setbacks always seem to have a smile. (After a year of living abroad I've realised how naturally South Africans smile - as opposed to the sulking tube-goers.)

Our reaction to a setback will determine if we are going to stay with our heads buried in the sand or look up and do something about it, and this is a crucial decision that all South Africans have to make.

If we consciously make the decision to make a small change for the positive everyday or merely to stay in the country and contribute to our economy - we will truly have a nation to be reckoned with.

The grass is always greener on the other side, until you get there and look back and find out that in fact, you've left behind a gold mine.

* Juliette Preston is HR consultant at Recruit IT Solutions.