Clintonb, you've been researching aviation training now for over a year.
Do you have the right to work in those countries which accept the FAA licences? If not, you need to do your sums carefully as to whether it is cheaper to do FAA licences first. You might be better off getting South African licences as it is still reasonably cheap there.
Secondly, it is a MYTH that helicopter pilots all did fixed wing first and that it is cheaper. If you only actually want to fly helicopters, then train for helicopters. Your thread from last summer should have helped to answer that one.
But ultimately, you need to decide what you want and aim for it. If you aim for nothing, you will achieve it with tremedous accuracy.
Cheers
Whirls