Moving to SA- Would love to get your advice.

[vegasboy]

Gordons Bay would be my choice if I wanted a quaint harbor city feel with beaches and small shops, nice restaurants etc. It has a small town feel, yet you are not far from Somerset Mall. It's a low keyed area and indeed a place to consider. The only downside is the wind in summer.

Somerset West is nice too, depending on your location. I have two properties on the outskirts just before the Sir Lowry's Pass. A beautiful view over the mountains and secured, yet we have a lot of challenges with an undesirable informal settlement right next to us called Sir Lowry's Pass Village.

The old town centre in Somerset West or CBD is tired and not a pleasure to visit. Many prefer to shop at Somerset Mall.

Enjoy your stay and be safe

[WhenweB]

Originally Posted by vegasboy

Arnaud, I will leave it to Charlize to respond, but let me tell you, many of us have a love-hate relationship with this country. When I listen to my neighbors and friends in Florida US, it seems to be a world wide phenomenon, but it's different here in ZA.

I LOVE this country too. My family, friends, business colleagues of all races are very special to me.

But then something happens which is totally out of the ordinary, once too often, which makes me hate this place: my aunt gets gang-raped on her farm and left for dead in the walk in cold room; my carS get stolen; a staff member's daughter of 16 gets raped, my friend who lives less than 3km from me, his wife and kid of 12 gets hijacked at gunpoint in front of their house. The list goes on. (Just received a security update that 3 houses in my street were burgled last week - this is an upscale area in the beautiful Cape Town).

It doesn't end there. The bitterness when you have to pay USD55k per year after SA Tax of 40% (you do the math and see how shocking it is) to fund your child's US university which could have been 10% of the cost in South Africa. The list goes on.

Have you ever heard of 'tronk dronk' in Afrikaans? Most South Africans are 'tronk dronk'. You become 'tronk dronk' when you start accepting the abnormal as normal. It's like the boiling frog syndrome, if it is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. Hope you all had a great day...

Love the boiling frog syndrome comparison Vegasboy but how sad about your aunt and the other people you mention falling victim to crime. Horrific. I hope she is okay although no idea how one would ever get over something so traumatic. I do worry about the farmers because if Zimbabwe is anything to go by they will certainly have cause for concern.

As things stand I have decided to stay in UK for the time being (this will probably change again tomorrow) but there is no way I can bring my 8 year old daughter to a country where masses of people have such low regard for life and such need to resort to crime because there is no chance of them supporting themselves legitimately. It is such a shame as I would dearly love to go "home" but I cannot risk putting my daughter into such danger. Perhaps once she has left school it may be an option... one can live in hope that things would have improved / settled down by then. So for the time being this South African is staying put in the UK - well until I change my mind again that is.... have a good Easter everyone.... wherever you are.

[vegasboy]

Originally Posted by WhenweB

Love the boiling frog syndrome comparison Vegasboy but how sad about your aunt and the other people you mention falling victim to crime. Horrific. I hope she is okay although no idea how one would ever get over something so traumatic. I do worry about the farmers because if Zimbabwe is anything to go by they will certainly have cause for concern.

As things stand I have decided to stay in UK for the time being (this will probably change again tomorrow) but there is no way I can bring my 8 year old daughter to a country where masses of people have such low regard for life and such need to resort to crime because there is no chance of them supporting themselves legitimately. It is such a shame as I would dearly love to go "home" but I cannot risk putting my daughter into such danger. Perhaps once she has left school it may be an option... one can live in hope that things would have improved / settled down by then. So for the time being this South African is staying put in the UK - well until I change my mind again that is.... have a good Easter everyone.... wherever you are.

Thanks for asking WhenweB. I don't think my aunt was ever the same after that incident. But the emotional scars weren't limited to her alone. Her husband (and the rest of the family) was very traumatized by it too, blaming himself for not taking enough precaution.

It's so sad. Just read about the farm murder on Friday where a whole family except the 14 year old son was executed. Damn this place. Farm boy finds his family murdered - Times LIVE

[WhenweB]

Originally Posted by vegasboy

Thanks for asking WhenweB. I don't think my aunt was ever the same after that incident. But the emotional scars weren't limited to her alone. Her husband (and the rest of the family) was very traumatized by it too, blaming himself for not taking enough precaution.

It's so sad. Just read about the farm murder on Friday where a whole family except the 14 year old son was executed. Damn this place. Farm boy finds his family murdered - Times LIVE

Just read the article - horrible. Shame poor chap. It doesn't say whether they took anything either. It all seems so pointless sometimes thats what I can't get my head around. The mother of a work colleague died some years ago when she was mugged for a shopping bag containing a loaf of bread and a pint of milk. Glad your aunt recovered physically but yes I should imagine the emotional scars would stay forever and would also effect her family. Awful. That's not to say of course that similar things don't happen in other countries but for some reason, when I look out my window at home in UK and don't see a burglar bar or security gate in sight I can't help thinking I would be an idiot to remove my family from this place to go into a middle class area of Cape Town (Milnerton) and surround myself with electric fence and burglar bars, armed response and fierce dogs just because I hate the weather here and miss SA so much.

I had friends living in Gordons Bay and it was always windy when I was there. Somerset West was lovely but think Stellenbosch may be preferable. If working in Cape Town itself I would live in the Tableview / Milnerton area though to avoid the heavy traffic going into town. Southern suburbs seem to have more crime for some reason but the schools are better (Wynberg / Rustenburg / Rondebosch Boys etc). Happy decision making.... not my strong point that's for sure!

[Johanna]

Originally Posted by WhenweB

Just read the article - horrible. Shame poor chap. It doesn't say whether they took anything either. / Rondebosch Boys etc).making.... not my strong confused:

People, please, do not come to hasty conclusions.

Many people find it strange that the young boy did not hear the shots and that he had the fire arms with him ( picked them up at the gate? )... sounds weird as guns etc are usually something robbers take or hold on to.

Let us not make any hasty assumptions.

[Rustler]

Live where you like, just be alert. SA is very lawless - Wild West. And if you call for help, chances are no one will come.....

[Aussiegirl2]

Dear Arnaud, I love my country. I love Africa. That, however, doesnt mean I love what is happening in the country. I love the ocean, Mandela, Cape Town, the mountains, the culture, the languages. I sincerely dislike crime, murder, rape, corruption, hate and rascism. Again, I love South Africa, I dont like whats happening IN South Africa.

[Moyes]

I have been following this forum on and off for sometime now and I thought I should share my opinion about the crime in SA. I have noticed that society(South Africans) seem to prefer to ignore the crime issues rather than deal with them as we are quite complacent. The media does not report all the crime either. I have read about a few farm attacks that have not been reported in the mainstream media and many other crimes.

Here is a website that keeps track of farm crime stats in SA and the stories behind the murders- www boerentrepreneur com/farmitracker/reports -This website one can browse any part of the country and it will give you an overview of the amount of farm attacks etc It's extremely high and very accurate!


The trend is very alarming! Im taking this quote from a guy called Jacob Ndlovu about the current crime problem in SA, "The current government are incompetent, short sighted and loaded with corruption. Crime is everywhere, including in the low socio economic areas where people get murdered on a daily basis. We need a more efficient criminal justice system as convictions take ages. We need the death penalty? Why because I know for a fact that crime/murder will decrease because these murderers will think twice before killing somebody....at the moment they don't think twice because IF they get caught they have 3 meals a day, room + bed, tv etc all at our expense for a few years then get released on good 'behaviour' knowing that they are now hardened criminals and will stop at nothing to do what they do best crime/murder. I am a educated black person that knows exactly how these people think- I have come across them and listened to the way they speak and they are something out of a horror story. I'm sorry to say this, but I warn the farmers and general public to arm themselves especially if you are a farmer and defend yourselves because one cannot rely on the cops or the courts! The ANC(African National Corruption) don't care about you and never will. This is the truth and I wouldn't be surprised if they try and censor my comments or come after me" Its on news24 and iafrica comments section.


I'm a victim of crime and know exactly what it feels like to lose a family member. Im not happy about the currebt situation in SA and with Zuma and the ANC singing 'Dubula Ibhulu'(kill the whites/farmers)...

[WhenweB]

Originally Posted by Moyes

I have been following this forum on and off for sometime now and I thought I should share my opinion about the crime in SA. I have noticed that society(South Africans) seem to prefer to ignore the crime issues rather than deal with them as we are quite complacent. The media does not report all the crime either. I have read about a few farm attacks that have not been reported in the mainstream media and many other crimes.

Here is a website that keeps track of farm crime stats in SA and the stories behind the murders- www boerentrepreneur com/farmitracker/reports -This website one can browse any part of the country and it will give you an overview of the amount of farm attacks etc It's extremely high and very accurate!


The trend is very alarming! Im taking this quote from a guy called Jacob Ndlovu about the current crime problem in SA, "The current government are incompetent, short sighted and loaded with corruption. Crime is everywhere, including in the low socio economic areas where people get murdered on a daily basis. We need a more efficient criminal justice system as convictions take ages. We need the death penalty? Why because I know for a fact that crime/murder will decrease because these murderers will think twice before killing somebody....at the moment they don't think twice because IF they get caught they have 3 meals a day, room + bed, tv etc all at our expense for a few years then get released on good 'behaviour' knowing that they are now hardened criminals and will stop at nothing to do what they do best crime/murder. I am a educated black person that knows exactly how these people think- I have come across them and listened to the way they speak and they are something out of a horror story. I'm sorry to say this, but I warn the farmers and general public to arm themselves especially if you are a farmer and defend yourselves because one cannot rely on the cops or the courts! The ANC(African National Corruption) don't care about you and never will. This is the truth and I wouldn't be surprised if they try and censor my comments or come after me" Its on news24 and iafrica comments section.


I'm a victim of crime and know exactly what it feels like to lose a family member. Im not happy about the currebt situation in SA and with Zuma and the ANC singing 'Dubula Ibhulu'(kill the whites/farmers)...

Thanks for posting.... always interesting to hear the view of a black person who has lived in SA and knows the situation. I often wondered what professional educated black people in SA think about the situation as opinions of white people are often considered to be based on race rather than experience / knowledge. Whilst I have no family members or connection to the farming community I always feel strongly about them - particularly those in Zimbabwe who we know have had farms burned down and family members and farm workers killed in the name of land distribution. I had been hoping this wasn't going on in SA so will have a look at the link you mentioned to educate myself better. Sorry to hear you were a victim of crime. Hope you are happy in New Zealand.

[Moyes]

Yes, it is very interesting to hear the thoughts of an educated black person in SA. Now I know how bad the crime situation is in SA for Jacob to say something like that. He is not the only one to speak out about the crime problem in SA. I have heard on numerous occasions from the educated black people on forums and in news that they have had enough of the crime etc Have a look at the website and see for yourself....

Im happy in New Zealand. Its a very peaceful country. I can walk around Auckland CBD late at night without having to worry about getting mugged or murdered. I might get the odd drunk teenager acting like a moron. However, I do miss my family and the weather in S A.

This week alone, A Hazelview,KZN lodge manager(David Foxon) was killed in front of his family(http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...yview-20120412 and another farmer(Christo van Rensburg) was petrol bomed in Heilbron but managed to to get away for help and is in hospital...Its on news24 and the website I sent in my previous post. I can go on and on about the amount of murders...but I suggest you check for yourself.

What we see on the mainstream news is nothing compared to when you look for the truth and the stats...

One thing is for sure; you wouldnt pay me to farm in SA or to live in Johannesburg. Crime and police corruption is hectic! South Africa has the highest farm murder rate in the world.

Such a beautiful country with so much potential.....but its getting destroyed unfortunately!