Just about to move to Cape Town

[Daxk]

Stevan, I think you would be lucky to get mugged by an Air Hosty,
Kindly define your sensible pre-cautions?
The SA Police service lists about 27 sensible pre-cautions all of which need to become routine and automatic.
of those only about 6 involve not getting mugged.
the rest are to do with in your home and in your car safety.
and you and your wife and your kids have to do them every time.
because the criminals who specialise in Armed home Invasions and/or Hi-jackings only have to get it right once.
THATS whats different about SA Crime.
Now agreed, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and Durban have less incidents of Violent Crime IN YOUR HOME, but they do occur there.

As to your question about thousand and millions of tourists not being attacked , Home Invasion Gangs look for one bit of loot more than any other, firearms, none of which Millions of Tourists to SA are allowed to bring in, yet Tourists do get raided in B&B's , some were reported last week in the press.
Now ask your spouse or any wife in SA what do they fear the most? a mugging or 4 plus armed young guys holding you hostage in your own home without anyone knowing about it?

which does happen often in SA, and I dont care that it might also happen in Chicago or Illinois or Panama, you are going to SA .
However,if you really want to do a comparison with Spain, kindly compare Rapes,Murders and aggravated Robberies, thats what makes SA people live in fear.

[capepamela]

Originally Posted by Halo

Could you please elaborate on those opportunities please - I'm curious.

What I mean by opportunity is the ability to step outside the culture and comfortable place we know best and explore something different. Particularly someone having the freedom to travel as a single and enjoy life's adventures. Just because some South Africans are disenchanted with their own nation...aren't we all at times?...it's no excuse for staying in our little comfort zones and watching the world pass us by. I would encourage anyone anywhere to travel if they can afford to do so, and why just pass through as a tourist when you can stay a while and get to know people??

[Daxk]

Capepamela,no-ones suggesting you dont travel.
I love the saying the Worlds a book and if you dont travel you only get to read one page.
But you also dont do it without a bit of research.
you might get away with it, as I did in arrogance, when I hitch hiked and bussed through 3 different warzones, or you could sustain serious damage.

Your comment that those of us who criticise the crime and corruption and incompetence in SA are "Disenchanted with our Nation"(???) interests me.
Are you referring to Professor Jonathan Jannesens article in the Sunday Times.co.za on the
1st of July?
or are you saying that those of us (me in particular) must hate SA and its people because we criticise its rulers and politicians?.

[Halo]

Originally Posted by Daxk

or are you saying that those of us (me in particular) must hate SA and its people because we criticise its rulers and politicians?.

Capepamela must be a stooge....

[capepamela]

Originally Posted by Daxk

Capepamela,no-ones suggesting you dont travel.
I love the saying the Worlds a book and if you dont travel you only get to read one page.
But you also dont do it without a bit of research.
you might get away with it, as I did in arrogance, when I hitch hiked and bussed through 3 different warzones, or you could sustain serious damage.

Your comment that those of us who criticise the crime and corruption and incompetence in SA are "Disenchanted with our Nation"(???) interests me.
Are you referring to Professor Jonathan Jannesens article in the Sunday Times.co.za on the
1st of July?
or are you saying that those of us (me in particular) must hate SA and its people because we criticise its rulers and politicians?.

Whoa there... I'm not saying anyone must hate SA. I'm not going to debate with you, I just wanted to give my opinion to the original post. I certainly see reason to criticize SA (or any other nation... the faults just differ) I just want prospective visitors to see the good, as well as the bad and ugly. I have many friends who have moved to the UK, US or OZ, most with good reason. I just pray that enough good, intelligent and proactive South Africans decide to stick and make a difference for the future of the nation. SA has been put in a position to impact all of southern Africa, if not all of Africa... and I want to see the impact be a positive one.