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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: glenclare on Saturday 12 May 18 20:16 BST (UK)

Title: Advice please. Relative may be alive and in South Africa or returned to UK.
Post by: glenclare on Saturday 12 May 18 20:16 BST (UK)

Being very careful not to identify the man concerned in case he is still alive, I would appreciate  advice on how I might find out where he is and if he is alive or has died.

I know he was born in England in 1932, married, had a son and then went to South Africa to work, in the mid 1960’s, taking his family with him. I have an address in the Transvaal in 1974, and then nothing. I have no idea where he was before or after that date. Shortly after that date he sent his son back to his wife’s parents in England so he was not conscripted. They are no longer alive, and his son is proving elusive.

I would really like to find out where the man is. I have tried all the usual checks in England and no sign of him or his wife.
Any suggestions as to how I attempt to look for him in South Africa would be appreciated

Title: Re: Advice please. Relative may be alive and in South Africa or returned to UK.
Post by: pampoen on Sunday 13 May 18 11:14 BST (UK)

Without a name we cannot help you.

Title: Re: Advice please. Relative may be alive and in South Africa or returned to UK.
Post by: panda40 on Sunday 13 May 18 11:19 BST (UK)

I would suggest looking on Facebook for the person or any of his children as a way of seeing if they have an account. The other thing you could use are electoral registers to see if he is listed. One final one to try is doing an internet search to see if  his name comes up.
Good luck in your search.
Regards
Panda

Title: Re: Advice please. Relative may be alive and in South Africa or returned to UK.
Post by: TreeSpirit on Sunday 13 May 18 16:32 BST (UK)

Have you tried the South African phone books?
e.g. http://www.whitepages.co.za/

Have a look at Australian records as well ...

Title: Re: Advice please. Relative may be alive and in South Africa or returned to UK.
Post by: glenclare on Monday 14 May 18 09:24 BST (UK)

Thank you for your replies.

If this man, originally working for a British company in South Africa, stayed after he finished working for them, would he have been allowed to firstly, remain there and secondly would he have had to take citizenship?

Are the electoral rolls online or would I have to use a researcher?

I have tried the phone books, without success, and a friend looked while she was visiting the area but her time was limited.

Title: Re: Advice please. Relative may be alive and in South Africa or returned to UK.
Post by: pampoen on Monday 14 May 18 12:05 BST (UK)

There is a group called Waar in die Wereld on Facebook. You can give his name and they usually able to tell you if he is alive or dead. There are no census records at present for South Africa. Hope this helps.