Rand Merchant Bank chief executive James Formby says that thousands of skilled people are leaving South Africa every year, leaving major gaps in the country’s future economy.<\/p>\n
Speaking to 702<\/a><\/strong>, Formby said that the country’s brain drain “trickle” mustn’t turn into a torrent.<\/p>\n He added that it was difficult to assess exactly how many people have left the country, as the government does not track emigration data – meaning analysts have to use other countries’ information to piece together statistics.<\/p>\n “The only way you can actually do it is to look at South Africans that are living in other countries and try and piece it together over long-term numbers,” he said.<\/p>\n “The best estimate is around 23,000 people leaving per year<\/strong>, but anecdotal evidence is showing it is higher.”<\/p>\n Formby said that these South Africans are not necessarily looking for opportunities and ‘greener pastures’ in other countries, with many simply ‘terrified of what’s happening in their own backyard’.<\/p>\n