IMHO it is not going to make a blind bit of difference in a couple of years. Within a short time the ME and Asia will be crying out for flight crews.
Here are some fairly basic facts presented at a GAPAN Instructor forum at RAF Cranwell last week.
1. Emirates are taking delivery of an aircraft a month for the next 10 years
2. Qatar and Oman (population 200k) are rapidly expanding
3. China needs 3000 pilots a year to stand still – they are only training 780 per year at the moment.
How long is it going to be before these areas start sucking in people from SA, starting with the qualified and experienced? Pay will be better than SAR, in USD and also tax free. My suggestion is to find some way to get type rated on jets and some jet experience asap.
By the way Ryanair are pretty desperate as well and this will have some effect on the European marketplace for opportunities for people prepared to get a JAR license.