Johannesburg

[Debi]

Pleasure Hetal,

You don't have to listen to everybody. Personally, I have never, ever been touched by the crime here. I fail to see how that is living in denial when no-one I even know has been subjected to crime that I mix with and that is a conscious observation so what am I closing my eyes to? Propaganda was perhaps the wrong word to use because it actually has nothing to do with the politics as such, but private people. Maybe aggravation would have been a better word to use. Sure the odd cellphone has been stolen - my dad's was stolen off his desk at work. My mom's car - she was visiting her friend and when she left the car was not there anymore. Today the police phoned her and told her that they have located it and we are going to the pound to identify it on Saturday. Those incidences are not violent, does nothing get stolen in other countries? We do know here that the crime is as a result of unemployment.

I go for many walks with my children. What is wrong with emmarentia I ask myself. It is a beautiful dam and rose garden. I have even sneaked in there in the middle of the night to make out with my ex husband at the fountain (LOL). We are both still alive. I skydive in the limpopo - you should see the view from 15000ft - it's truly amazing, we camp out in the middle of nowhere at the drop zone afterwards.

I live a lovely life here. Sitting outside when the sun is setting every night with a sundowner in the warmth of the evening - which is most evenings - having a braai, watching the rugby on weekends or the cricket with a bunch of friends around. It's the kind of life I would hate to give up, albeit may have to.

I fetch my teenage daughter from parties late at night. I go to the theatre and come home late at night. I am really very sorry but I think it's the oblivious people who are subjects of the crime.

I wish you and your family well :-) (I don't know how to find the smileys!)
Debi

[Debi]

Daxk,

I do not live in a vacuum and I do not work for the homecoming revolution and I resent those malicious remarks made towards me. I don’t think that it is fair for you to make those remarks about me when you don’t even know who I am. Why would you "get a slow burn" whilst reading my e-mail. Jealousy perhaps? Unhappy and "miss home"?

I am sorry about your friends Daxk, the areas you are talking about is exactly where I live, I know a lot of people and am a very sociable person. People tend to only hear about that bad things that go on.

The moderators on this site have been very nice to me and I would like to apologise if I am causing any further argument but I got very upset to be personally picked on when the crime in this country is not even my fault.

Regards from sunny South Africa.
Debi

[Daxk]

Well, Debi I happen to know the area's you mention extremely well, I am in very frequent contact with people who still live there.Statistically I suppose its possible but if you are leading such a life as you say, I can only suggest you do it more often.

[Daxk]

Dear Debi, within the Sandton/Randburg area is Craighall,Parktown,ParkTown North etc,
These are some of the incidents in the past two years:
Sandy Staats of Craighall Park, who was tied up and boiled in hot water;
Mike Thompson, father of two of Craighall who was stabbed, shot and thrown into his swimming pool in front of his young son;
Terry Smith, also of Craighall, highjacked and shot dead the very next day;
Theresa Goldworthy of Craighall Park, shot and killed while sitting in her car;
Barbara Harrison of Beaufort Avenue, who was brutally attacked and died;
Ian Giles of Giles Restaurant in Craighall Park - brutally murdered;

This is apart fromthe Lap Family this last sunday.

[Michele-In-SA]

Hi Hetal,

All these posts have been very interesting to read. If i could just support what Debi said and that is that one has to be truly security conscious in SA. If you are alert, and have your wits about you, you will be okay.

And yes a lot of South Africans are trying to leave the country but it seems that there are many returning as well. Homecoming Revolution is an excellent site, as already mentioned somewhere in the posts, and it should help with your decision.

I know how tough it must be to make such a huge decision but if you have doubts and no peace in your heart about relocating then it would be better to stay where you are. Just my two pennies worth!

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Michele-In-SA

Hi Hetal,

All these posts have been very interesting to read. If i could just support what Debi said and that is that one has to be truly security conscious in SA. If you are alert, and have your wits about you, you will be okay.

And yes a lot of South Africans are trying to leave the country but it seems that there are many returning as well. Homecoming Revolution is an excellent site, as already mentioned somewhere in the posts, and it should help with your decision.

I know how tough it must be to make such a huge decision but if you have doubts and no peace in your heart about relocating then it would be better to stay where you are. Just my two pennies worth!

Homecoming revolution, from my experience, seems to be an organisation that has been set up with the sole intention of encouraging people back to SA without full regard for the problems being encountered there, and as such therefore seems very one sided in its views. I know the poster who put that link up and I can assure you he was taking the mickey

[Michele-In-SA]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

Homecoming revolution, from my experience, seems to be an organisation that has been set up with the sole intention of encouraging people back to SA without full regard for the problems being encountered there, and as such therefore seems very one sided in its views. I know the poster who put that link up and I can assure you he was taking the mickey

Yes, I hear you, and you could well be correct. I suppose the only thing one can really do then is find and speak to people who have relocated to SA and to get their opinions. At least then it would be straight from the horse's mouth so to speak. mmmmmmmmm............perhaps I should put something like that up on my site as a survey?

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Michele-In-SA

Yes, I hear you, and you could well be correct. I suppose the only thing one can really do then is find and speak to people who have relocated to SA and to get their opinions.

Yes you're right. Unfortunately we very rarely get posts from people who are actually there.
My overall experience of posters has always been very negative responses I'm afraid

[Michele-In-SA]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

Yes you're right. Unfortunately we very rarely get posts from people who are actually there.
My overall experience of posters has always been very negative responses I'm afraid

Perhaps because it's human nature to moan and complain? Perhaps everyone needs to stop and think for a moment about the positives.

[Anu]

Hi All,

jsut wanted to tell my sie of story..... I stayed in Sandton for 2 years and was working in randburg for few months then was shifted to CBD.....

I never had any bad exp there... may be it all depends on knowing your surrounding... and avoiding danger areas....

I think Sandton is quite safe place...
During weekend parties.. i even came back to home in mid nights and sometime even early morning.. nothinghappened with me .....

just people need to keep there car doors locked.... Use Highway .. and avoid roads with llots of robots.....

I have travelled in nights from Airport to North JHB .... And i found it quite safe.....

But at the same time few of my collegues got robbed at CBD.... I guess that was theer mistake.... No one is upposed to walk on roads there... thats kind of place people should avoid....

Thats wat i wanted to say....


Cheers
Anu