Take the gap

There is a disputed statistic that half a million South Africans are currently living in London. The people who are supposed to know, the British Home Office and South African Department of Home Affairs, seem a little unwilling to commit to an exact figure, perhaps for fear of revealing the sheer scale of the migration north. All that's for sure is that there are a lot of us already hanging about the British capital and that there's zero indication that this state of affairs is likely to change any time soon. South Africans are great at taking the gap. We are lightning-quick at cutting into three feet of space in the faster lane of traffic at rush hour. We are wily business entrepreneurs who can see a way to make a buck, and we are even getting better at slipping through the opposition's defense on the rugby field. We're an opportunistic, ambitious lot who are going places. It's no wonder then that every year so many young South Africans pack their bags and head to London to make the most of the chance to live and work in one of the most cosmopolitan and vibrant cities in the world. And, aside from the excitement and stimulation of experiencing a world capital, there is the benefit of earning pounds, travelling and tasting real independence. A stint in London has become a right of passage, so what are you waiting for? Get reading, planning and packing and make sure that you also Take the Gap.