By Helen Grange
South Africa has a well-priced and desirable commodity to offer the world - human eggs.
Infertile couples from all over the world are increasingly choosing local fertility clinics to realise their dream of having a baby, and like the phenomenon of plastic surgery safaris, they are linking their reproductive mission to an affordable holiday.
The most popular clinic among couples from America, the UK, Australia, Europe and countries in Africa is the Cape Fertility Clinic, run by Dr Paul le Roux and partner Dr Klaus Wiswedel.
'The Internet has enabled fertility clinics to compete globally' "We are getting between 30 and 40 foreign visitors a month seeking egg donations, and it's because the medical care here is very good, and highly personalised," says Dr Wiswedel.
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The Cape Fertility Clinic is among four fertility clinics - two are in Johannesburg - listed on the international website www.renewfertility.com, an American-based site founded by Californian Robin Newman.
She herself came to SA looking to redress her childless status, found the facilities here world-class, and now helps others find their way here through her website.
Her site features a comprehensive list of tariffs for hotels and lodges, as well as for an egg donation programme - which Dr Wiswedel tags at between R35 000 and R45 000 over a 10- to 12-day period.
"The Internet has enabled fertility clinics to compete globally," says Dr Wiswedel.
'I didn't want to miss a moment of this miracle!' "Our competitors are not in South Africa - they are in Cyprus, Moscow, Spain.
"We help with finding these couples accommodation, and they are also spending millions on the tourist attractions in and around Cape Town.
"Most importantly, we are giving these people a gift they desire most in their lives, which is very gratifying."
Typically, the egg recipient is a woman in her late 30's or 40's who, due to putting career first, has left child-bearing too late, he says.
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