Moving to SA - Jo'burg or Capetown

[GoldenFleece]

Hi
My husband is an SA expat living over here in the UK. His company have offered him a great opportunity to go back to Jo'burg or at a push they will let us live in Capetown. he was born and brought up in Jo'burg so thinks that there is little issue with either place. (All his family have left Jo'burg due to the crime and lack of opportunity.) We will have a 2 year old and a baby. Is CapeTown a much better option? IS the crime as bad in Jo'burg as they say? Part of me (a very conservative Brit!) thinks Capetown could be the chance of a lifetime and a great lifestyle for us all but the other part thinks Jo'burg could be a disaster, especially as I will be spending alot of time on my own as husband will be travelling in Africa.
Thanks

[Halo]

Originally Posted by GoldenFleece

Hi
My husband is an SA expat living over here in the UK. His company have offered him a great opportunity to go back to Jo'burg or at a push they will let us live in Capetown. he was born and brought up in Jo'burg so thinks that there is little issue with either place. (All his family have left Jo'burg due to the crime and lack of opportunity.) We will have a 2 year old and a baby. Is CapeTown a much better option? IS the crime as bad in Jo'burg as they say? Part of me (a very conservative Brit!) thinks Capetown could be the chance of a lifetime and a great lifestyle for us all but the other part thinks Jo'burg could be a disaster, especially as I will be spending alot of time on my own as husband will be travelling in Africa.
Thanks

Cape town is a better option by a factor of 100. Why can't you just stay in old Blighty while he works in Africa. Think carefully and do your homework.
Good Luck!

[Darko]

Originally Posted by GoldenFleece

Hi
My husband is an SA expat living over here in the UK. His company have offered him a great opportunity to go back to Jo'burg or at a push they will let us live in Capetown. he was born and brought up in Jo'burg so thinks that there is little issue with either place. (All his family have left Jo'burg due to the crime and lack of opportunity.) We will have a 2 year old and a baby. Is CapeTown a much better option? IS the crime as bad in Jo'burg as they say? Part of me (a very conservative Brit!) thinks Capetown could be the chance of a lifetime and a great lifestyle for us all but the other part thinks Jo'burg could be a disaster, especially as I will be spending alot of time on my own as husband will be travelling in Africa.
Thanks

I would look at facts ond not at what "they" say. BTW, CT would be a better option - even though I have lived in Jhb (without death) for the better part of 4 decades.

[Daxk]

Originally Posted by Darko

I would look at facts ond not at what "they" say. BTW, CT would be a better option - even though I have lived in Jhb (without death) for the better part of 4 decades.

Sofar. To date. Until Now.
But nobody can guarantee tomorrow. Especially not in SA.

[JoziJoe]

Hi GoldenFleece
Since becoming an expat I have realised that perceptions about factors such as crime, discrimination and weather are relevant, as experienced by the individual on a personal level, largely based on their background and lifestyle. I believe Johannesburg's crime level, can be compared to high risk areas in London, caused by the same social conditions, influx of illegal immigrants and unemployment.
Thousands of British citizens lived in splendour in South Africa during the Apartheid era and returned to the UK just before Mandela was released which contradicts with their fashionable image of being racially tolerant.
Your safety, living in either Johannesburg or Cape Town, would largely depend on what security measures you can afford and which part of those huge cities you choose to live in.

Johannesburg is mostly the target of illegal Zimbabwean (running into millions I believe) and Nigerian immigrants but parts of Cape Town is renowned for it's poverty.

However, those who can afford and are willing to pay for 24 hour security, still manage to live, raise families and enjoy South Africa's many benefits, both financial and environmental. Compared to other immigration "havens", it offers great quality housing and wonderful weather conditions at very economical prices.

[Halo]

Originally Posted by JoziJoe

I believe Johannesburg's crime level, can be compared to high risk areas in London, caused by the same social conditions, influx of illegal immigrants and unemployment.

Could you please substantiate this with some type of evidence.

Originally Posted by JoziJoe

However, those who can afford and are willing to pay for 24 hour security, still manage to live, raise families and enjoy South Africa's many benefits, both financial and environmental. Compared to other immigration "havens", it offers great quality housing and wonderful weather conditions at very economical prices.

Don't you find what you said odd? Perhaps things will get better (fingers crossed) - but what of those that can't afford to live in a prison?

[JoziJoe]

Originally Posted by Halo

Could you please substantiate this with some type of evidence.

That's according to your compatriots that immigrated from the bad parts of London to the same country I did for safety. Rapes, murders, drugs on a daily basis, cannot park your car in the street, getting burgled twice a month? I think I did say "I believe"? Can you provide evidence to the contrary?

Don't you find what you said odd? Perhaps things will get better (fingers crossed) - but what of those that can't afford to live in a prison?

It's not odd, that is the reality of South African living! They have had to adapt their lifestyles for survival. Even with 24 hour security you are not guaranteed a crime free life, so without it you can be sure you will be a victim of crime or getting killed. What will finger crossing help, it's not going to get better. South Africa and Zimbabwe are ex British colonies, discrimination policies were implemented during British rule. Yet Britain has chosen to turn a blind eye and ignore the crime and corruption, which have reached genocide levels in Zimbabwe and parts of SA?

[Daxk]

Actually Jozijoe has a very valid point.
King Leopold would today be guilty of Human rights abuses and be tried at the Hague
for the Belgian Congo, the French's handling of Algeria and the "Barbouzes" actions I suppose could excuse Marseilles these days?
Gordon in Khartoum and Kitchener's actions in the Indian Mutiny before he got to SA certainly are hanging offences.

Whats even funnier is that the revered Mahatma Ghandi was actually the biggest racist of all.
Its why he was thrown from a train in Natal.

History has a short memory.

[Thatch22]

Originally Posted by GoldenFleece

Hi
My husband is an SA expat living over here in the UK. His company have offered him a great opportunity to go back to Jo'burg or at a push they will let us live in Capetown. he was born and brought up in Jo'burg so thinks that there is little issue with either place. (All his family have left Jo'burg due to the crime and lack of opportunity.) We will have a 2 year old and a baby. Is CapeTown a much better option? IS the crime as bad in Jo'burg as they say? Part of me (a very conservative Brit!) thinks Capetown could be the chance of a lifetime and a great lifestyle for us all but the other part thinks Jo'burg could be a disaster, especially as I will be spending alot of time on my own as husband will be travelling in Africa.
Thanks

Capetown is not better or worse then Joburg. You donot have to live IN Joburg it self. Outside there great places to stay. We live outside Joburg in Kyalami and we like it very much. We live in a green belt.
There is crime in Joburg but also in Cape Town. I think even more then in Joburg now these days.
Find yourself a good, save place for your self en enjoye this country with its friendly people and great nature.

Good luck.

greeting from a cold and windy Kyalami

Annemieke

[Thatch22]

Just think good what you want. To live around Jo burg is not that bad. We live there.
good luck