Can someone please give an elaborate answer about the living situations in Johannesburg, South Africa?

Question

We are thinking about moving there, and I was wondering what life is like there: is it okay to drive (especially for teenagers)? If you are aksed to go there to work, will the homes they provide you be safe? Do many Africans dislike Americans because of history of apartheid? Are people friendly? What are the best schools for girls (and boys)? Is the crime rate really bad, or is it not very serious? etc.

I just need to know the specifics of the country.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Johannesburg is a city where people work hard and play harder.

If you said you wanted to move to New York would you base your decision on the Bronx or Long Island. Johannesburg is a huge city with it's good areas and it's bad areas.

The good suburbs are first world. Good schools, home security first class medical facilities, golf courses, great eating places and malls. The bad areas are like downtown Baghdad.

South African drivers are pretty pathetic. If your teenagers have been on defensive driving courses they will be fine. There are 9500 traffic fatalities a year, mostly pedestrians. We have a lot of unlicensed and unroadworth taxis on the roads that make driving an adventure.

The security services in Johannesburg are very advanced. Any home that you are given to live in should have good fencing and a security system.

Few africans dislike americans because of apartheid. Most africans have problems with the Iraq war - but that is an abstract dislike. When you are dealing with individuals they will say what they hate about US policy and then ask your advice on getting a green card. Overall the people are very friendly and helpful.

I've put in links to some of the Johannesburg schools.

The crime rate in South Africa is something like 7 times as high as in the states. We have 22 000 murders a year with a population of 44 million. The US has the same number of murders with a population of 280 million. The police are improving their statistics.

The National Geographic team that did an article on Johannesburg a few years ago came from Iraq. The worked mainly in the bad areas and couldn't wait to get back to the safety of Iraq.

The climate is great the facilities are wonderful and with the dollar being worth six Rand 50 SA cents your budget will stretch pretty far. Be intelligent and you will have a great time.


One small thing is that Johannesburg is multi-lingual. Signs saying "Hou Links" mean keep left. They are not street names.

Answer 2

Johannesburg has wealthy, and poorer areas. North of the central business district is the "wealthy" suburbs. Many parts of these suburbs look like many parts of the americas, with tree lined streets and individual homes. Crime can be a problem, but normally in the south suburbs of Johannesburg.

Since Johnnesburg is landlocked, they have had to overcome this by having an extremley good road network, comprised oof paved roads, and driving in Johnnasburg is comparable to driving in maybe a second-tier US city.

Africans don't have a problem with americans as: a) It wasn't america that occupied South Africa, it was the British. b) They see americans in S. Africa as hope, a prospect of change, and they are welcomed warmly.

Education wise, I don't really know about schools in Johannasburg. I know higher education wise, they are definetly up there as one of the best, if not the best african country. I could imagine if you were to move there for work, there is an international school there, just as many other countries have. Which would offer good education for your children

Now thats just my overview, myself I have never visited Johannesburg but I do have relatives that live there, and I have studied the country in depth.

Answer 3

I've lived in joburg for a long time almost my whole life
Here's some stats
-teenagers can only drive at 18
- houses are safe and I haven't been robbed or anything in my 20 years living here
- safest areas would be the park( park hurst, parktown north, parkview, parktown ect...)
- as well as west cliff- very expensive, saxonwold and Sandton
- most private schools are boys only and girls only the best government schools are
• craighall
• parkview senoir
• bryaneven
- then private schools
St katharines (girl)
Ridge(boys)
APPS( girls)
Rodean(girl)
Brescia (girl)
St johns (boy)
St David's (boy

People are very friendly, well most- school moms make Frieds instantly
Of course people have different opinions on Americans but lots of American families live here and there's no harsh feelings

Hope this helped

Answer 4

I must strongly object to oomdassie's comment about immigrants from other countries. On average, they do not commit any more crimes than South Africans and they certainly aren't a bigger threat to anyone. The problem is that immigrants who behave normal and obey the laws do not make for good news, so unless you know them you don't know they exist. But the myth of the violent Nigerian or the thieving Zimbabwean lives on in the minds of many South Africans who are used to categorising their fellow human beings.
As most of the others here have said, Jo'burg is a melting pot of people from all walks of life. As such it is very much like many an American city. I used to live in LA and in Jo'burg and must say that the similarities are striking. There are clean, safe, shiny shopping malls and dirty, dangerous back alleys in both cities. And in both cities, violent crime (note: not property crime, such as robberies) is mostly commited by people who know eachother. So if you choose your area wisely, you can avoid a lot. That said, a researcher from the Institute for Security Studies in Jo'burg once told me: "The probability of falling victim to crime in SA is no bigger than in the US, but the probability of being harmed in the process is much greater."
But from my experience, Jo'burg is a warm, welcoming place and as long as you're vigilant without being hysterical and value freedom you will have a great time there.

Answer 5

south africans are crazy about americans,i live in jhb where almost all teenagers drive their own cars(suburbia).
for affluent blacks,whites and coloureds apartheid is mainly a thing of the past.
illegal citizens from neighboring 3rd world countries are to blame for the crime rate that is about the BIGGEST problem in SA.

JHB has no shortage of good schools especially the private schools,world class restuarants,modern theaters,beautiful parks beautiful people.
I for one am very proud to be a South African.

Answer 6

Here is a site, that should help you to answer many of your questions...

Answer 7

South Africa is in many respects a developed country, but much of its population lives in poverty. All major urban areas have modern, world-class hotels and tourist facilities. Game parks and areas most often visited by tourists have a wide range of facilities. Food and water are generally safe, and a wide variety of consumer goods and pharmaceuticals are readily available. The capital is Pretoria, while the seat of parliament is Cape Town and the Constitutional Court, South Africa's highest court, is located in Johannesburg.

Travelers are encouraged to be vigilant and avoid any large gathering, particularly protests and demonstrations. The possibility of violence, including threats against American interests, should not be discounted, particularly in times of heightened world tension.

While visiting game parks and reserves, it is dangerous to leave one's vehicle or otherwise be on foot, even in the presence of a guide. Several incidents of wild animal attacks on tourists in the region have resulted in deaths or serious injury. There have also been shark attacks in the False Bay area of the Cape. In December 2004, a woman was attacked and killed by a shark while swimming at Fish Hoek beach. Should a shark be spotted close to the shore, local authorities will sound a warning siren to notify the public.

Although the vast majority of visitors complete their travels in South Africa without incident, visitors should be aware that criminal activity, sometimes violent, occurs routinely. Notwithstanding government anti-crime efforts, violent crimes such as armed robberies, carjacking, muggings, "smash and grab" attacks on vehicles and other incidents are regularly reported by visitors and resident Americans.

Crimes against property, such as carjacking, have often been accompanied by violent acts, including murder, when victims resist or are slow to respond to attackers’ demands. South Africa also has the highest incidence of reported rape in the world. Foreigners are not specifically targeted, but several have been the victims of rape. Victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical attention, including antiretroviral therapy against HIV/AIDS. Questions about how to receive such treatment should be directed to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Criminal activity, such as assault, armed robbery and theft, is particularly high in areas surrounding many hotels and public transportation centers, especially in major cities. Theft of passports and other valuables is most likely to occur at airports, bus terminals, and train stations. A number of Americans have been mugged or violently attacked on commuter and metro trains, especially between Johannesburg and Pretoria. Several American travelers also reported theft of personal belongings after strangers whom they invited into their hotel drugged them. In at least one instance, the American died after being robbed/drugged in this manner.

In areas of Mpumalanga Province west of Kruger National Park, there have been violent attacks on foreign tourists. In the Western Cape, police resources have been strained by continuing gang conflicts and vigilante violence in the Cape Flats area of Cape Town. Some portions of the provinces of Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, such as the "Wild Coast," have significant levels of crime and inadequate medical services. Travelers may wish to contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate before embarking on trips to these particular areas.

Armed robberies of cash-in-transit vehicles and personnel occur throughout South Africa and peak during December and January due to the increase in cash flow from commercial stores to banks. These attacks have also included incidents at major malls and in large grocery stores. Individuals should raise their level of situational awareness while in the vicinity of cash-in-transit vehicles and personnel and avoid areas where they are located to the maximum extent possible.

Credit card fraud, counterfeit U.S. currency, and various check-cashing scams are frequently reported. Do not accept "assistance" from anyone, or agree to assist others with ATM transactions. Travelers should try to avoid using ATMs after bank business hours or in remote locations. When giving your credit card to a store or restaurant employee for processing, do not let them take the card out of your sight. Visitors should also beware of telephone or email schemes which attempt to win the confidence of an unsuspecting American who is persuaded either to provide privileged financial information or travel to South Africa to assist in a supposedly lucrative business venture.

To check on a business’s legitimacy while in the U.S., contact the International Trade Administration, Room 3317, Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230, telephone: 1-800-USA-TRADE or 202-482-5149, fax: [phone]. If you are abroad, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.