GETTING MOVING WITH YOUR SEMIGRATION

Tips to help you 'lift it and shift it' without breaking your back, or the bank

- GRAEME STEEN

IT IS more than two years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many businesses are allowing employees to work from home permanently or have taken a hybrid approach to work. This has played a role in shaping the semigration trend that continues to gain momentum across the country.

Semigration refers to the act of moving provinces rather than moving countries, with a growing number of South Africans either targeting better work opportunities or a change in lifestyle by relocating, according to home services online platform Kandua.com which has seen an uptick in requests for moving services over the past 18 months.

Popular areas for semigration include coastal areas such as Cape Town, Hermanus, Mossel Bay, Plettenberg Bay,

Gaansbaai, and Ballito. In-land, towns such as Nelspruit and newly-developed areas in Gauteng such as Waterfall and Fourways are seeing an influx of people.

However, while South Africans are on the lookout for greener pastures, there is a lot to consider when moving house. Relocating your household takes time and effort, and is undoubtedly stressful. That's why it can be helpful to hire a third-party professional to assist.

How much does it cost to semigrate?

A move from one side of the country to the other starts at around R10 000, and can go up to R50 000 or more.