Relocating to Johannesburg

[Stevan]

I would remove UK from your list. THe sad fact is pensioners are forced to sell there houses to fund the care they need. They struggle to make ends meet on just the state pension. The NHS is disintergrating. The traditional european destinations for expats are now to expensive because of the strong euro. this is why so many are looking further afield.

Car and home insurance, are for many, seen as a luxuary item and are forgon for many.

I agree that poor south african pensioners get little or nothing. This i agree is a terrible situation. The fact is that UK pounds go a lot further in South Africa than they do in Europe. This is why more people are looking to South Africa as a possible retirment destination.

With out a back up income in £/$ I would seriously consider another destination.

As I have said before we are all entitled to an opinion. We then must decided whos opinion we believe. That is why debate is good.

For me South Africa is great and I love my life. Is it right for everybody, no definatley not.

That is why the debates on these forums are so important, I just wish that they would not fall into personal insults so often.

[SABrits]

Move on to another forum- there is an Expat forum in Ireland. You are an expat in Ireland - but a guest.

The people who are expats in SA are guests and are treated as such and have far more manners in 'your' country. Maybe you could give them the same back!

[SABrits]

I agree totally. Leave the personal reasons behind. The country is great and has a lot to offer to those who are willing to put the time and effort there. For some of us, there was no choice to remain - but would I retire there YES! Why? Because I can get health care, I will be looked after by family (which is non existent in the UK) and SUN for the bones and health. Hey presto!

[Daxk]

Originally Posted by SABrits

Move on to another forum- there is an Expat forum in Ireland. You are an expat in Ireland - but a guest.

The people who are expats in SA are guests and are treated as such and have far more manners in 'your' country. Maybe you could give them the same back!

I assume this is aimed at me?
apart from my retaliation to luna the boxer (which we have sorted out as Adults in private)
Kindly show where I have been personal irrespective of the insults levelled at me?
I only post refferable, fact, what I get back is personal,


Yes, I do know Johannesburg well, I also know Durban well.
I was extensively involved in Blockwatch and then community Policing Forum.
I also volunteered at crisis centres, Life Line and Tape aids for the blind, I painted rphanages and taught illiterate adults.
In South Africa
all this when most of you, by the maturity of your posts were probably still in nappies.
hallelujah,
Thats not to prove that I am suuuch a great guy, its merely to point out that in terms of "giving something" I've paid my dues.

so yes, SA has a security problem but irishlout, who is going to manage it?
who is managing it and what are they doing about it?

Arnaud? Midrand had a shopper shot and killed at Carlswald Shopping Centre on Tuesday, you ever shop there? off New road? there's a whole bunch of other nasties going on, in Midrand but I really dont want to post horror stories,

You dont like negative feedback?actual honest negative feedback?
go to goodnewssouthafrica, they only post good news stories,
in the interrim,you BS about how safe Jhbg is, I WILL post and argue.
Because its not.
And nothing changes except by media pressure

The original question has still not been answered, can Jenny go for walks in Johannesburg SA as she did in the UK?

[chinasing]

As I continue to read this forum on a daily basis I am rather disturbed by the lack of compassion and the need to extend positive feedback from certain individuals and they know who they are as they feel the need to address every single post with doom and gloom. In any country there will always be some undesirable aspect to it, but should we focus on that constantly? Because said persons are seeped with so much bitterness and negativity, I bet you can't even name 5 good things about S.A in fact why do we try this little social experiment, shall we? Please indulge me here if 5 is too far fetched for you, and I'm sure it is, you can even name one think just to get you off the hook.
But for these individuals to to spend so much time focused on a country they don't even live in anymore, is beyond me. What's wrong you dont have anything nasty to say about the country you're residing in now? What is the real reason here, you claim it's not racial, you claim that you paid your dues which is quite funny to me, as i thought our main reason for being here in this world was to help one another, how you equate that to paying your dues is beyond me but just another example of how small minded you really are. FYI I too have done a lot of work to help those in need but why do I need to post that on here? I have nothing to prove but only one thing, and that's to provide an unbiased opinion in the hopes of being a help but not a cyber world bully.
So please again what is your real motivation here for all the posts that are nothing short of a glorified horror story, if you don't have a genuine answer to a sincere question no need for these outrageous claims or sources ...and fyi Wikipedia is not a credible source....since you're online all the time google it.
To those looking for answers at the end of the day it all boils down to research, credible resources and good old common sense, and there is nothing to fear but the fear itself and the opinions of small and shallow minded people with a chip on their shoulder...

[Daxk]

Chinasing
Its People, Its Weather, Its Scenery and landscape, Its ability to feed 80% of Africa and supply Electrical power to 75% of Africa, Its Wealth Of resources.
and the seventh one, its infrastructure compared to other Countries Sub Sahara.
If I think about it I could come up with probably twenty more good things about SA.
Now if we were discussing SA which my posts of Doom and gloom are'nt kindly understand once more,I am not knocking its people or the country

If I were I would ask why the country is now a net importer of Food, has an electrical power problem,has dropped its standards of living/health/life expantcy and most importantly, its justice system.

There are many threads on here that I do not post on, there are even more that I do not re-act to.
Stevans post above is a prime example, he is happy in SA disagrees with me, yet the post is a balance, there are no personal attacks in it,it is realistic etc.

Have a look at what I posted against,
Johannesburg is safe,you can do whatever you did in the UK here as well, those who criticise are either over the top, racists,hate the country,unhappy in their "new" homes,unable to settle in, too old,too stupid...etc
You will be ok if you stay away from dangerous areas,crime happens everywhere in the world,
(in SA the scary one finds you at home or in your driveway)

Get my drift?
I will react to BS, if I am wrong about a point, prove me wrong, not with words or insults, with facts.
And no, I do not use Wiki as a source, others do Arnauds post on emigration here and my response is a case in point.

You ask what my reason is? its twofold.
People come on here to find out what SA is like, I want them to go to SA, SA needs them if its too survive but I want them to go fully informed and aware.
It is an embarrassment when people read about crime in SA,it reflects badly on all South Africans, Therouxs over the top TV program on SA and jhbg aired here on National TV on Tuesday night,
All week I had twenty questions.
Not all Nigerians are 419 scammers either.

Secondly,The situation in SA has to be improved, the Crime and Justice,the education and health Systems, the housing and social welfare etc..
Democracy came to SA not because of war or bombs or bullets, it came because of media exposure.
And its the only thing the Ruling Govt has to fear.
And the only thing that will force them to sort out the ills of SA, to stop corruption and greed, to stop wasting money, is to be held up to the spotlight.
and every small voice like mine, helps towards that.
I dont want a change of Govt, I want he Govt to change, to do what they promised when Nelson came out.

So Chinasing and Irishlout et al, SA needs you and I am grateful that you have gone there,that you take the risks that I am not prepared to expose my almost teenage daughter to.
If you did'nt go there, SA would be worse off.
But dont try and BS that its all safe and you dont have to take care.
Because thats when you drop your vigilance and end up in a newspaper in Ireland or Germany or Holland as another victim.
r someone who believed you does.

[Daxk]

Originally Posted by chinasing

As I continue to read this forum on a daily basis I am rather disturbed by the lack of compassion and the need to extend positive feedback from certain individuals and they know who they are as they feel the need to address every single post with doom and gloom. In any country there will always be some undesirable aspect to it, but should we focus on that constantly? Because said persons are seeped with so much bitterness and negativity, I bet you can't even name 5 good things about S.A in fact why do we try this little social experiment, shall we? Please indulge me here if 5 is too far fetched for you, and I'm sure it is, you can even name one think just to get you off the hook.
But for these individuals to to spend so much time focused on a country they don't even live in anymore, is beyond me. What's wrong you dont have anything nasty to say about the country you're residing in now? What is the real reason here, you claim it's not racial, you claim that you paid your dues which is quite funny to me, as i thought our main reason for being here in this world was to help one another, how you equate that to paying your dues is beyond me but just another example of how small minded you really are. FYI I too have done a lot of work to help those in need but why do I need to post that on here? I have nothing to prove but only one thing, and that's to provide an unbiased opinion in the hopes of being a help but not a cyber world bully.
So please again what is your real motivation here for all the posts that are nothing short of a glorified horror story, if you don't have a genuine answer to a sincere question no need for these outrageous claims or sources ...and fyi Wikipedia is not a credible source....since you're online all the time google it.
To those looking for answers at the end of the day it all boils down to research, credible resources and good old common sense, and there is nothing to fear but the fear itself and the opinions of small and shallow minded people with a chip on their shoulder...

Chinasing, your comments on the insults I've outlined in bold?

[Daxk]

Originally Posted by Daxk

Jenny the safest place is called Thornhill estate at Modderfontein,about 20 minutes from Bruma.
The biggest threat is not the crime but in your not recognising when you are doing something "silly".
Your husbands Company need to get someone from a risk assesment Company to brief you(and no, I dont know who to recommend) and to also check out your rented accomodation iro
security.
I strongly suggest that is non-negotiable.
The second thing is that if someone local offers you advice, take it to heart.
you need to get into an awareness routine.
good luck
.

For those who are too lazy to read and just post without thinking, this was my response to the original question on this thread.
Horror story? doom mongering? 50 year old scrapbook? Racism? or good advice?

[arnaud]

Daxk, this is what Iread from you in the British Expat Forum :

"Vette, I had to chip in here.
I'm always amused when people say that if you take care and avoid the bad areas you will be allright.(not what you are saying but implying I think about the Cape Flats)
The main fear in SA I get from my friends and aquintances is not that they might be mugged if they went for a walk in the park or on a beach somewhere, its that Crime comes and finds you in your home or in your driveway.
Sorry,dont want to sidetrack this., just an observation"

You told us you know very well Durban and Joburg.
It seems you are also an expert in Cape Town stories.
What did you do for your country ? You are bashing it behind a screen, I think this is a childish attitude. On several forums your are talking doom and gloom about South Africa. May be you don't like your (undesired ?) new country. May be the weather, the lack of activities...
You told us you are an old guy, you attitude is strange as it refers to young people homesick abroad.

You want to scare anybody willing to visit South Africa. What is your goal ? Are you paid for that ? If not, sorry but you are an idiot !
Or may be, as you had to leave the country, then you want to see it collapsing. This is a jingoist attitude, but understandable.

[Irish Lout]

Daxk, I too have to wonder what your real motivation is...?

Any time a thread starts from someone looking for some advice on SA youre always one of the first in there to dredge up a few horror stories from your vast vaults of experience and try to scare people off - Ive actually read threads where the person ends up turning down the opportunity to move here based on what they read - mainly yours and Halos negative posts (Halo, btw who doesnt have an original thought in his head other than to post brief one liners and sucking up to your previous posts - quite sad really).

You talk about having opinions - but in your case its not an opinion, you never let it go until the other person becomes bored and moves on and until you have well and truly tried to paint this country in such a bad light that it puts people off even coming down to see from themselves. Why are you scared? bitter?, or annoyed? that people might actually like this place and over 50 years the country has actually changed?

You accuse Chinasing of insulting you - boy, what a thin skin you must have - Chinasing was actually quite polite and trying to be reasonable - you see enemies in every corner.

Please - we are tired of all your war stories and your little black "statistics" notepad and scrapbook, why dont you let some other people post their opinions and show them the respect you yourself are demanding.

Maybe you need to take up a new hobby?