Have you ever lived in South Africa? please tell me about everything: life, safety, people?

Question

I want to know about life in south africa specially cities like Johanesbourg, cape town . if someone here has ever lived there please I want to know your experience there. I know people talk about security issue but what is the true . is it a real concern ? plus want to know cost of living there compare to major big cities. School qualities for kids., safety for kids . food, health isssues . people . Are they nice in general? what language is spoken in public. interaction between people from diverse background. thanks a lot. I am moving there with my family in 3 month and I am a bit anxious about call I call stereotype. So please share your true experience only if you have lived there. God bless everyone

Answer 1

Im in Pretoria (near Johannesburg);

MacDonalds adult meal - R25
MacDonald kids meal - R16-00
Can of Coke - R4-50
School Fees (per month) - from R600 (government) upwards
Bread- R5-00 a loaf
Milk - R10-00 for 2 liters

Its cheaper to cook your food from scratch than to eat out. Convenience foods are more expensive.

Meat and Vegetable prices vary from place to place if you can afford it - buy from Woolworths, next PicknPay or Spar (all grocery stores)

Some places advertise cheap Vegetables (Fruit&Veg City or Housewives Market) - but dont buy more than you can eat in 4 days because its normally already ripe and goes bad before you can eat it.

We have great food here, South Africans love to Braai (BBQ) and we eat more red meat than other countries.
And Biltong is raw meat that dried out - it sounds aweful but tastes good. "Dry Wors" is raw sausage dried out - also good.

Safety ... you will need to be more alert than what you are used to. Lock doors and windows at night, lock the car if you are at a shopping center or at night.
Be careful when offering to help people (dont pick up hitch-hikers) dont hand out money to people begging at the traffic lights, or buy stuff from the guys selling at the traffic lights (vegetables, fake perfume, sunglasses and fake dvds)

Try not go out of public areas, until you know the area. Most things happen to foreigners when they are at a secluded beach/ hiking trail or walking home from clubs etc.

Be careful of everyone, no matter how nice they seem.

What is your religious affiliation? The best way to join a new area and find like minded people is to join a church. There you will meet people who will be happy to help you with info on nearby shops/ schools/ etc

English is the most widely spoken language.

I have lived in SA for 30 years. 2 years ago someone tried to steal my purse, I put it next to my baby under a blanket in the babyseat of the trolley. I saw this lady reaching under the blanket (I was about 2 meters away) and I got so mad because I thought she was touching my baby. When I realised my purse was gone I shouted at the top of my voice " SHE STOLE MY PURSE" within 30 seconds my purse was found and the lady dissapeared. That is the only crime that I can think of that has happened to me.

Our home has an alarm, we are linked with a security company called Chubb. We are very aware. We have had to chase people out of our garden at night before (burglars) but we chased them before they got into our home.
We have a dog who barks at all strange noises at night - thats a deterant.

I have also be called over protective, but my 3 kids (under 5) are always supervised (at school / home by me or my domestic worker) I dont let them go unaccompanied anywhere. If your children are older you will have to find out from parents of similar aged children what they do.

Dont worry but when you get here be careful.

Answer 2

Wow, what a question.

Everyones perpective will be different.

I grew up in South Africa and moved to Australia when I was 22 years old. I have been back there for visists (family and friends), but could not see myself living back there.

I think that on a one on one basis that most South Africans are very pleasant. They enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, with sports like football (soccer), rugby, netball etc. BBQ (or braai there) is part of the lifestyle. They love a good joke and can laugh at themselves - sometimes because it is all you can do.

For languages, there is eleven official languages, but if you speak English, you would be fine in most places.

And yes, security is an issue. Across the board. There is unfortunately a lot of poverty, which is forcing people to steal to feed themselfes, and then there is a criminal element that is just out to plunder. It is only the very brutal crimes that you get to read about in the news. When I tell people what has happened to my own family, they think I am lying. I have had hijacks, rapes and murders in my family (and no, we are not all from Johannesburg).

At one stage I quit a job because the danger of driving alone when a shift finished was to great (the work then organised an security company to acompany me home - so the can look after you).

My house had electric fences, armed response alarm system, and infra red beams across the outside.

My schooling was good, I was in a private school. Unfortunately the university eduction of some RSA universities aren't recognised abroad anymore.

But after all that, I have heaps of family still living there, and they are ok.

Good luck on moving there, and I hope you enjoy just the beautiful side of South Africa

Answer 3

I am not so fond of the big cities like Jo burg. But there is a lot of decent places there. Depending on what you are moving here for I would say that in general it is reasonably priced (except motor vehicles - way to expensive). And yes security is a problem. I have lived in SA for 30 years and the only problem that I have had with crime is that I had my car stolen 6 months ago. (I could have been more careful and still had the car)

The main thing with the crime is not to do stupid things. There is certain areas that you need to avoid and things not to do. Don't leave your car unlocked and don't go walking alone.

School was fine when I still attended not sure what the standard is currently, lot of people complaining - if you can afford it I would say that private school is the way to go.

In general the people are friendly and helpful- and you would be OK speaking English.

Answer 4

I went to South Africa on board the Pendennis Castle when I was just 18,travelled with a family and we settled in Port Elizabeth,which is the next port after Cape Town.Cape Town was great then and I am sure much moe cosmopolitan than it was in the late 60's.then you had to take your own drink to the clubs but even so there was always a great atmosphere,you must do table top Mountain it is breath taking,even in the days I was there the shops were great for shopping so nowadays they must have all the latest designer labels there I am sure,beaches gorgeous,coffee great.The locals are very friendly and only too willing to help.have a great time

Answer 5

Hi Mimi,
Quite a few questions there, so here we go.
My best freind and his wife live in Joburg, as they call it,with three children aged 9, 12 & 14.
When living & working in the Sultanate of Oman, I popped down to visit. I was doing OK at the time.
Oh dear.I thought..
The "housemaid" was living in what amounted to a garden shed, Steve, my mate had a Browning 38 pistol next to the bed, the children were not allowed out without himself or Rachel being present, although they were all living in a "decent white" area.
I have personally no problems there, and thought our trip to Sun City, and down to Cape-town to be most pleasant. If pricy.
My mate can't easily come back to the UK, as the Rand is worthless.
I developed a few SA black friends, whom I found to be more friendly than some of the white Affrikan.

I guess that I am anti-racist, but love a haggle with the lads at the fish market Great fun.

Bob.

Answer 6

Hi, I lived in South Africa for 12 years. I was born there but moved to England when i was 12. My father brought us back to England due to safety reasons, not to sure why though. The education for children 12 and younger is very good, when i went to school here (England) i was above other children in my year. We lived in Cape Town, it was fine for me, friendly and welcoming. Communication was good, alot of the locals spoke English from what i can remember. Me and my family never suffered from illnesses, we had regular checkups and sufficient medication. I hope this helps a bit, good luck. xxx

Answer 7

I am half south african half british, i was born and raised in s.africa moving to britian when i was 8. I go back there nearly every year and i honestly love south africa. It is one of the most beautiful countries in the world but sadly has a big crime problem which anyone in their right mind will admitt, i have many bad memories as a child such as seeing my mother with a knife held to her throat as the car was being robbed being one of the worst but also many priceless good memories that im sure many british people would never experience in their lifetime, such as feeding monkeys in our back yard and going on safari.I think unless you have some sort of connection to s.africa i.e your from there or you have family there you will find a shock the first year that you live there but if you really love a country you will put up with whatever is there, in realitive form, but i would advise you to go to cape town not jo'berg, cape town in my opinion is much safer. Houses are alot cheaper in s.africa and you get alot for yor money, you could get a flat in jo'berg for as little as £50k but in cape town more expensive. schools are good as i only attended primary i could only comment on those but all my friends all got great education, degrees etc. The facts are there about s.africa, it is one of the most dangerous places in the world but i would say only a small amount of all the family and friends i have there have left. if you keep yourself safe its a wonderful place to live, good luck

Answer 8

Hi Mimi,
Well, I haven't lived there, but I visited for six and a half weeks a couple of years ago, I found the South Africans a charming bunch of people, friendly and helpful, We travelled by car up the garden route, from Capetown to Port Elizabeth, taking Five weeks to do it, staying in guesthouses and meeting the locals, saw loads, just be careful near cities like Capetown and Johannesburg, I was mugged at gunpoint in Cape town, so as I say just keep your wits about you and you should be OK.

Answer 9

Learn movements that could protect your self or anyone that you treatment is obviously anything excellent when you thought of learning some martial artwork but not at all something to complex this is actually the place https://tr.im/UHVjK  the web plan Patriot Self Defense .
With Patriot Self Defense you'll learn techniques, techniques, activities approach and more, all to be able to defend anybody at any time.
Patriot Self Defense is the better on line program, a distinctive plan that helps you in that most vitally point -keep safe.

Answer 10

Nice place. Pick your friends carefully. Only go where you know you and fam. will be safe. Blouberg area is nice.
Cape Town has excellent restaurants ( I like the Italian ones)
The food in general is very good. don't be intimidated by people in the streets. I hope you have a job, because if you're
a european male you wont find a job easily. I've lived there for 50 years and won't go back willingly because of the lack of work opertunities, too much crime and bad racist politics. Good Luck

Answer 11

You really need to do a lot of research and weigh up the pros and cons before you do this.
By moving to South Africa you will be losing a lot of freedom which you may be taking for granted right now.

I lived in Cape Town for 32 years, so I guess I am qualified to answer this.
I have had 2 cars stolen, appartment burgalled, friend murdered (for R200), 2 (girl) friends raped, mugged once, numerous posessions stolen ranging from cellphones to mountain bikes etc. and that is just what happened to me.
Another thing to consider, is it´s more restricting for women, as they are soft targets.
My wife, who is Italian, felt particularly claustrophobic our last year there.

Do yourself a favour - google or youtube "crime" "south africa"
There have been many a question like this about South Africa on Yahoo, you can check them as well.

The link below is from a camera on one street corner in Durban, South Africa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbwbsf64w...

One of these links is a poll, by telephone, where 98% of the people who phoned in voted that crime is totally out of control in South Africa!!
Look at these links and decide for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zkqilyfb...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhnflbrc7...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwxsidp3r...

Educate YOURSELF, make YOUR OWN decisions and then decide for YOURSELF.

Whatever you decide I wish you the best of luck, South Africans are a very friendly and diverse people, who will do their best to make you comfortable.