So, you’ve made the world your oyster and settled in a faraway land for your dream job or a blissful retirement. But no matter how far you go, home will always be where the heart is.

More than a million South Africans live abroad, separated from their loved ones by borders and thousands of kilometres.

While video calls make it possible for grandparents in the UK to share birthdays with their grandchildren in Johannesburg, or partners split between Cape Town and Amsterdam to whisper goodnight through a screen, nothing beats being in the same room with friends and family, sharing a meal, swapping jokes, and giving real hugs.

And as the festive season approaches, the urge to reconnect with loved ones after a long year feels stronger than ever – both for those abroad and those back home, whether it’s parents missing their grown children, siblings eager to pick up where they left off, or friends ready to go on adventures, just like old times.

This is why Shyft wants to give the most precious gift of all this festive season: your loved ones all home for the holidays.

Fly home on us this December

Shyft is giving away up to two return flights to SA to one lucky person to help reunite their family this December*.

Here’s how to enter:

Share your story in this entry form and tell us why your family should be reunited this December. Include key details such as locations and relationships.

Make sure you download the Shyft app. As an entry requirement, you must provide your Shyft registration number in the form.

How winners will be chosen 

• A panel will select the top 10 most touching stories.
• Each shortlisted participant will receive a Shyft wallet top-up of R5 000 to spend on the app*, so even if you don’t win the top prize, you’ll still get something to make the holiday season a little sweeter.
• Shortlisted entrants will be asked to record a short video sharing their story*.
• These videos will then be published on the Shyft website and TikTok channel for public voting.
• The winner will be announced after public voting.
• Shyft will record the airport reunion of the winner and their family.

Entrants must ensure that their travel documents for returning to South Africa are in order.

Staying connected – wherever you are

Connection doesn’t have to wait for December, though. Whether your loved ones are in the UK, Australia, Europe or the US, Shyft helps you share love and support all year round with:

• Free Shyft-to-Shyft money transfers in pounds, dollars, Australian dollars, and euros to spoil them on birthdays, anniversaries and other special moments.
• The cheapest forex rates, which make global travel and gift shopping more affordable.
• Multiple physical and virtual multicurrency cards, all linked to one account.
• Quick, low-cost international transfers.

This festive season, we’re taking that connection one step further by bringing one lucky family back together. Because no matter where life takes you, shared moments are the ones that matter most.

Let’s make this a December to remember; download the Shyft app and enter the competition now. Entries close 21 November.

*The family member(s) abroad must be available to travel to South Africa between 1 and 12 December 2025. Passengers must be from the same family and be travelling from the same location. By entering this competition, entrants agree to the sharing of their personal information, submitted story, and/or submitted video on our social media pages. The Shyft wallet top-up cannot be withdrawn for a period of 12 months. Read the important terms and conditions here.