Me and my husband have been trying to figure out where to move next. We are Canadian citizens living in Europe and he used to live in South Africa and said it isn't a nice place to live. I haven't been there but I don't really want to ge back to Canada. He hasn't lived there for about 10 years anyway. Is it all that bad? What is the best place to live? Is the crime as bad as people say? Would I be able to to find work? I am a Library Tech/Records Manager but I also work as an Administator? Would my husbard? He is a chef in highend restuarants but would like to go back to working in highend hotels/resorts?
Maybe if you can give me some pros and cons about life there.
Thanks
2006-09-30 00:51:27 · 15 answers · asked by Constant_Traveler 5 in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ South Africa
Hi. I am from SA. Unfortunately, there are more cons than pros. In fact, there is probably only two pro's and about a thousand cons.
It is a very, very sad thing for me to say. South Africa is... was my home. I now call Melbourne, Australia home. And I thank God everyday for that.
As my father would say, he felt safer in SA during apartheid than he does at the moment. This is coming from a coloured Capetonian. Ask ur hubby if you don't understand. Thats something very sad for him indeed too.
Unfortuantely, South Africa is a place of bad karma where things go from bad to worse even when u think it can't get much worse.
No, the crime is not as bad as people say it is. ITS WORSE. If you want a dozen black people sticking ak 47s in your face and beating up your husband before each of them rape you, then you should go to South Africa. If you want a a rock thrown at you from a bridge while driving 120km/h on the highway then you should go to South Africa. If you want a Jacob Zuma as your future president then you should go to South Africa. If you don't want to work then you should go to South Africa, cos chances of finding an administrative job is almost impossible cos of the 30% unemployment rate. And even if you do, u will probably only be paid like R3000 or R4000 per month. There are only two lanes on the highway heading in to the city. And then you will have to deal with cows crossing the road cos the council won't fix the fence. If you want to get another wheelie bin for your house cos someone stole yours then you have to bribe someone from the municipality to get a new one.
South Africa is not a country for the faint hearted. Amidst its incredible scenery and breathtaking landscape, the society drains so much energy from you. You have to learn to lock everything at all times. You have to constantly be on the lookout. You can't walk in the street after dark. Sometimes in the day, u are taking a risk too. You can't use the public transport cos its too dangerous. You have to have a car. You better be sure that you have a good neighbourhood where the police are still active... a good example is Somerset West. One of the few places in Cape Town that are still liveable.
South Africa is good for a holiday, but NOT for living.
Sure the exchange rate from Euro or Pounds to Rands will put you in good stead, but it also makes you a target. Anyone with money will be seen as a target. And someone from a first world country, who has no clue how things are run in South Africa, will be a particularly easy target.
The bad people in South Africa will think nothing of kiling you. And those who make it out alive are lucky that they can at least warn people not to ever step foot there.
Its just unfathomabe how sick some people are.
Unfortunately, South Africa is the economic engine for the rest of Africa. And as such, several refugees flock to the only hope in Africa. This is what is crippling South Africa.
Its just a sad, sad thing.
I'm still trying to get my boyfriend to join me here in Melbourne.
Melbourne is just fantastic. I love the freedom that I didn't know was even possible. Many South Africans will say SA is a good place to live, but those ar the ones who either can't get out of South Africa and those who have never seen how people should be living. I can't explain y anyone else would say anything good about South Africa unless they are completely looney.
I feel so negative. Let me soak up some Melbourne air to counter balance. Aaaaahhhh.
Fantastic!
2006-09-30 01:47:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
I think your first step would be to get a job and work permit (unless your husband is a South African citizen?). Trying to get this while in the country is very difficult if not impossible.
I live in SA and it is OK. My girlfriend works as a chef and she drives home alone late at night and we are careful but not afraid. Incidently, a friend of ours living in the UK (left SA because she was afraid of the crime), also a chef, was killed in a robbery just last week - puts things in real perspective. My cousin left for Canada because she was afraid of being raped in SA, within three weeks of arriving there, she was gang-raped and beaten up. She's back in SA now. Crime is everywhere. Of course you have now read from people who have never been here in their whole lives such as Alf Garnett or those who left the country how bad it is, but most people in South Africa will tell you, yes, we have a crime problem, but you do not have to fear leaving your gates (and the last time I checked children were kidnapped and killed in the US, the UK, Europe, and Australia...). Just be careful.
There are many more pros than cons to living in South Africa, that many people who left the country and are now returning permanently will tell you. Why don't you first visit and see for yourself. Your husband left during apartheid, which was not nice for the majority of people!
2006-09-30 02:15:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Firstly, dont listen to Alf Garret and Brad Morris. They are two Nazi biggots who plague this website with their views on apartheid.
Now, although I wont deny that Johannesburg, a big city, is filled with crime, all of South Africa is not like that.
I lived in a small village along the coast of Kwazulu Natal, and we walked home from school, and the boys even walked to beach early, when it's still dark, to surf a bit, before school starts.
I'm studying in London, and have being robbed twice here, never in SA.
You're best bet would be to live in a small village or town, near Cape Town or Durban. That way you can travel into work daily (both Cape Town and Durbs have lots of hotels where you're husband can find work, and lots of tertiary jobs areas, for you to find a job)
It might be annoying traveling home every night, but it is worth it, as the villages are much safer, and it leaves you out of the city for the weekends and you're days off.
My parents still live like this in SA, and when I return, this will probably be the livestyle I follow.
Getting residancy in SA is easy, especially if you're husband is ex South African. I know in a lot of cases you simply only need to stay there longer than 30 days, and thats enough criteria to apply for it.
South Africa is a beautifull country, and despite the crime and low employment, it is worth living there, if only for a few years.
PS, if it might help, my folks run a selfcatering guesthouse, and my father still works. It might be a good idea to start a small business like that. The market is ripe for new businesses, and in the summer months you'll be booming.
2006-09-30 22:56:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anria A 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
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2016-04-22 23:06:10 · answer #4 · answered by tony 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Cape Town... Pros: Beautiful, vibrant, diverse, friendly... in many respects a 1st world country (according the USA Gov), well-developed economy (SA experiences its biggest growth in 20 years), amazing shopping centres, good infrastructure...
Cons: Crime (but, it depends on the area. Not a single family member (i have 20) has been a victim of violent crime in the past 12 years)... Other people are exposed to more crime. The ANC government is not good and service delivery is bad in certain areas, but yet, there are about 100 000 Europeans living in Cape Town and Johannesburg alone. I'd recommend SA, definitely.
2006-09-30 05:59:47 · answer #5 · answered by Malan 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Chicky Poo's answer just about sums it up. Of course there will be those in denial who will tell you different but check out the news sites in South Africa or Interpol for the crime stats and ask yourself why a whole generation of South Africans ( more than a million) have fled the Country in the last 10 years. It is not possible to put South Africa into perspective in a few words other than avoid the place.Rather go to Australia where at least you have a 1st World Government and facilities and I have yet to hear anyone criticise the lifestyle the Aussies have.
Sorry but a wave of nausea descended upon me when I read the response from the denialist Jorge S. Maybe he can provide specifics of the so called murder in the UK so we can check. They have around 850 murders per year in the UK and 18000 in SA if you believe their Government, 32000 if you believe the SA Medical Profession and 50,000 if you believe Interpol. The SA Human Rights Council issued a statement 2 days ago saying the most unsafe place for children to be in SA is in school because of the high number of violent incidences usually involving weapons. It is one sick society full of crime.poverty,HIV/AIDS and now an incurable strain of TB.
To Anria A - I am not a Nazi bigot as you allege, I am a realist. I do not live in fantasy and denial like you and as for your stats Cape Town has nearly 60 murders per 100.000 citizens per annum making it the Murder Capital of South Africa.( Government figures recently released) Londoners will be glad to see the back of you and your ilk with your lies and deceipt!
2006-09-30 02:16:16 · answer #6 · answered by Alf Garnett 3 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Cons: Crime, high(ish) unemployment
Pros: Beautifull country, termendous opportunity, friendly people, cheap housing, weather, Nelson Mandela and so many more. It is great to live here.
Durban or Cape Town is best for tourism jobs. Johannesburg is business center so has numerous high end restaurants. Very few people employ professional records mangers (many in SA do not YET know its a science). You can get job in govt sector as records spoecialist.
The countyry is great.
2006-10-01 21:17:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think South Africa is one of the loveliest places ever.
Friends of mine live in the cape area near Mossel Baai for 8 years now and are very happy there, although they are a mixed race couple. Nearly all South Africans I ever met are friendly and hospitable people, whatever colour they happen to be.
I've spend several months with them in the meantime, and although there was a brawl among the workers once resulting in one man getting killed, I have not heard of anything out of the ordinary since. Of course there are burglaries and muggings, but you get them anywhere else too.
As for work I could not tell about your own line of occupation, but I know that there are lots of hotels and restaurants in the area.
Why don't you ask their embassy, in my experience they are very helpful and friendly.
I'm off again to South Africa on the 4.th Oct. to do volunteer work for a charity, and looking forward to it very much.
2006-09-30 02:03:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I love my country, but it's really getting bad here though. I would'nt recommend staying here permanently, but a visit would be cool. I think south africans can kuirer the best out of all nations!!!
And the women...WOW!
Especially this gem girl...mmmm!!!
Peace!
2006-10-01 19:51:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
when you go to south africa go to bloemfontein not joburg and cape town and that is nonsense about you cant go out of the yard because you will get kidnapped i walk to school everyday there and back if you have a cv and you are black you will easily find a lob because of affirmative action otherwise hard luck and if you are looking for a safe place go to bloemfontein although not many music artists go there it is very safe i think your husband will easily get a job and it is very quiet and peaceful south africa has changed a lot now
2006-09-30 01:34:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 4⤋