Sydney’s Muller family, from South Africa, apply for ministerial intervention amid visa drama
A hardworking family who became stranded in Sydney when Australia closed its international borders during the pandemic is facing deportation after years of visa limbo.
A hardworking family who became stranded in Sydney when Australia closed its international borders due to the Covid pandemic is facing deportation back to South Africa after five years of visa limbo.
Johan and Nadia Muller, and their three children Joshua, 10, Leah, 8, and Noah, 6, who live with relatives in Turramurra on Sydney’s north shore, are now pleading with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to intervene in a last-ditch effort to remain in their adopted home, after exhausting all other options.
The couple said they feared for the family’s safety if they returned to Johannesburg, which is considered one of the developed world’s most dangerous cities.
“We would be going home to nothing, it would be disastrous,” Ms Muller said.
She said the family’s exit would also have a ripple effect on other families because Mr Muller would have to shut down his sports court resurfacing business, which employs 15 subcontractors.
The family arrived in Sydney on a four-week holiday from Johannesburg to visit relatives in March 2020.
The couple said their world was quickly turned “upside down” as what was meant to be a brief visit turned into an indefinite stay due to borders closing amid the pandemic.
“With flights cancelled and no way home, we suddenly found ourselves in lockdown, we were living in uncertainty and disbelief about what was happening,” Ms Muller said.
The family said they registered “multiple times” for government-facilitated repatriation flights, but every attempt failed with flights filling up within minutes.
“We tried so hard to get a repatriation flight back home for more than six months, but we had no luck and it was extremely stressful for all of us,” Ms Muller said.
In June 2020, the family were then placed on a bridging visa, with conditions that allowed Johan and Nadia to work, and their children to study.
“Our money was running out and Johan began working at the local tennis club to support the family.
“In September, we started a new family business with the help of my brother, building it completely from the ground up.
“Johan continued building and resurfacing sports courts while coaching tennis in the evenings to make ends meet.”
In 2021, the Mullers said they made the “heart-wrenching” decision to sell their car and most of their valuables back in South Africa in order to be able to survive financially in Sydney.
“We had to pay for short-term bridging visas which had to be renewed every three months,” Ms Muller said.
“This, plus ongoing lockdowns, added serious financial and emotional strain on our family.”
The Mullers said they had also engaged in various immigration lawyers, which has cost them up to $50,000 in legal fees in the past five years.
They said they had also been forking out thousands of dollars in tuition fees for their children to attend school.
In 2023 hey needed to sell the car they purchased in Australia to help with ongoing fees.
When Australia reopened its international borders in February 2022, the Muller family said they simply couldn’t afford to go back to South Africa.
“We had nothing to go back to as we had sold off everything in South Africa to survive here,” she said.
Ms Muller, who works for a not-for-profit organisation supporting people experiencing homelessness, said her family had built their life here and loved being part of the community. “We had no choice but to build a life here due to our unique circumstances and we love living here and contributing to society.”
The Mullers have started a change.org petition, which has gained more than 500 signatures.
“We no longer have any remaining visa options and we plead with the Home Affairs minister to hear our case and allow us to stay in this wonderful country that we now call home,” Ms Muller said.
The Mullers face the prospect of having to leave Australia at a time the country has a record migration intake.
Independent Bradfield MP Nicolette Boele said she wrote to Mr Burke earlier this month asking for support of the Muller family’s request for ministerial intervention.
“Johan and Nadia have shown great resilience, generosity, and commitment to Bradfield, through community sport, charitable work, and the establishment of a successful local business,” she said.
“Bradfield values the Muller family deeply and I am in contact with the Minister regarding their application.”
A Home Affairs spokeswoman said: “Due to privacy reasons, the department cannot comment on individual cases.”
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Originally published as Sydney’s Muller family, from South Africa, apply for ministerial intervention amid visa drama
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