So my few cents on the matter is...
There's a few options, depends on how much you've got, is it lump sums, monthly contributions.
Also there's a difference between investing offshore, to try beat the returns on the JSE, and moving your money abroad. Also are you looking for a rand hedge etc.
You get local, rand based investments that invest in international companies and markets. So with Sygnia say, you can invest in Apple, FB, Amazon etc. Or your bigger investment houses will offer access to international stock exchanges (MCSI)
Pros: relatively cheap, quick and easy to set up, minimum amounts pretty low, no need to apply for special clearance, can do monthly debit orders
Cons: rand denominated, based in SA
You get local, dollar/ pound denominated investments, so they'll convert your rands into foreign currency and then invest it for you in a foreign market
Pros: Dollar/ Pound denominated
Cons: more fees, bit more complicated to set up (things like SWIFT details and what have you), minimums also quite high (Coronation have one for example, minimum is $15 000). If you're doing more than 11 million a year you'll need SARS clearance.
For both of the above though, when you want the cash you'll have to get it in rands first (or paid into an SA bank Account) and then convert it into whatever currency you need (if you're abroad).
Banks sometimes have foreign account cards that are pretty underrated - FNB for example has it's Global Account card where you can transfer money and convert it into whatever currency.
Pros: you can actually use your cash in another country. So for example you're going to be moving to the UK. You can keep contributing to your account and when you get that side simply draw/ swipe. Doesn't have to be converted to rands first.
Cons: don't think you'll earn much interest on this though; I've only ever used it for short term things like a holiday, never used it to keep money.
Then there's opening an account with an international bank and simply transferring money to it over time. This is easier if you're actually there. So if you might be moving to the US, go on a trip first, visit a bank and see about getting an account opened.
Not a finance guru though so you know, Ts & Cs and all that.
