Is it hard for a US citizen to move to SA?
 

Pretty straightforward question,

Is it difficult for a US Citizen to move to South Africa and get South African citizenship?

Without any family ties, the SA citizenship process takes at least 8-10 years.

Why would you want to become a SA citizen?

Not that there is anything wrong with South Afican's!

I have some friends who have extended the opportunity to have a nice job there.

Do I need to be a citizen to get a job there?

No, but the process is quite rigerous.

I am looking at trying to make a move myself but proving difficult. If you can get an investor visa, I think R3mm then that is the easiest way. Otherwise the company looking to hire you need to prove they cannot domestically source the skills (usually this is done through hiring you, then tailoring the role description for you). You would then qualify for a work visa which would be tied to your job - the visa would give you permission to stay as long as you remain employed. As this can only be arranged once there, you'd have gain employment on a tourist visa (not allowed) so you would have to leave and re-enter the country once you have the job/work visa. Whether this can be arranged before coming I am not sure, but would guess so. It is a process best put out to a lawyer was my conclusion due to lack of information and a very lengthy process...

You have to judge depending on the location whether it is worth it or not.

I know a German who got a work visa/permit pretty easily, but he was pretty high up in management of a large SA company.

Intra-company transfers of managers that involve re-assignment to South Africa is indeed relatively easy to pull-off and works more reliably than importing new hires from abroad.

I would rather get a non-immigrant Visa and keep your US passport. Because of corruption and incompetence, the South African passport is not worth very much anymore. More and more countries are tightening visa requirements for South African passport holders. And from practical experience, for some reason all my travels on my South African passport always included extra scrutiny from security/immigration/customs.