Should i stay or should i go

[keithjose]

I am facing a massive dilemma, having left South Africa in 1992, travelled everywhere I could. I eventually settled in London in 1998 and have been here ever since. fantastic job, great flat, 2 good holidays a year, awesome car, actually not a bad life, but I miss the sunshine, the braai's, the beaches, the good ol south African lifestyle and of course my family. My finance who is British (I have dual nationality) is very keen to go, but I am just not sure. Crime I am not worried about, its the opportunities and the political uncertainty that gets me, there is so much negativity about SA now days and everyone I talk to say that in a few years its going to be another ZIM. HELP! Need to hear something positive to convice me that it will be all worth it.
thanks in advance
Keith

[Anu]

If i was in ur place... i would have opted to go back...
I mean u already have Citizenship.. and i m struggling to get workpermit

U right!!! it's awesome country.. Sunshine, Beaches, Brai and What a mix of culture...

Listen to your heart Keithjose

[Shamus30]

Hi Keith. I have like many safa's also grappled with this for decades. I have just left (again) so maybe I am biased. All the early Zim signs are there. Read the book "When the crocodile ate the sun" by Peter Godwin before you decide. SA is the most fantastic country on earth, we miss home like crazy. But I just did not feel safe, and could not keep my family safe. Violent crime, despite improved stats, is rampant. Look to the values of the next generation of leadership (ANCYL) and who they support. That will be where the future President comes from. I would say that unless you can accept you will be living in a violent banna republic, don't go back. But everyone has a different view. It is a very controversial and emotional issue.

[Kath]

It would be wonderful if we had 20/20 vision going forward. But we don't. So what you need to do is work out what you'd do in a heartbeat if you knew you only had 6 months to live, and work from that.

I agree people are very negative; world-wide, the media focuses so much on scare-mongering that we fear terribly all the time. Whatever happened to the idea that "you must be the change you want to see in the world?" (Ghandi).

But fear never provides a good premiss on which to make a long-term decision.

Countries go through ups and downs - they all have challenges and opportunities. But at least the future only comes one day at a time (Dean Acheson)

Remember to go with your heart; the heart has its reasons whereof reason knows nothing (Pascal).

[Daxk]

If you are young enough to start over somewhere else,I'd say go and get it out of your system.
I think its going to go down a lot further before it gets up again, and the main reason I left was not because we had ben exposed to crime,but what my life would be like with a teenage//young woman going out to parties etc at nights, and what my levels of fear would be.
I found that to be unacceptable.
(and before the same old arguement about its the same everywhere else erupts, it might be,but not to the same levels and frequency)

[MichaelJ47]

Hi Keith

I was in the Eastern Cape then moved to the Cape 7 years ago. Also worked in Nigeria, USA & Dubai and while I can honestly say don't come back here anytime soon perhaps it would be better if you thought about the implications of the following practical issues..

Our president elect has just got off on a rape charge and stated in his trial that to protect himself against aids he always took a shower

The same person is doing his utmost to close 1 of the countries most effective anti-corruption units and also has corruption charges levelled against him in the arms deal that went through some years back.

Petrol is now R10.50 per liter and diesel is R11.00. in the embargo days there would be riots if the petrol price rose 5 cents now it goes up by rands and no-one says anything.

Labour hiring laws state that the pale faced population is to be hired last in the queue so unless you are intending to come across and start your own small business getting employment , regardless how qualified you are , could be a challenge

Crime is rife , much worse than '92 when you left . In fact if you own a firearm here you are a target. It is the only country in the world where you cannot use it as self defense unless you can prove categorically that your assailant intended to kill you not just rob you with it.

A pensioner was hijacked in Cape Town a while ago by 3 strong men and he shot them all.1 died but the victim is up on murder charges.

Tik or meths amphetamines is rampant out here even in the schools. Education levels suck and few university degrees are still recognised outside South Africa yet in the 1960 we were the world leader in Heart Surgery.

If you want your kids to have a high level of education you have to export them now.

Heaven forbid that you end up in a state hospital due to accident or attack- it is really scary. Been there done that - private health care is a must but it is expensive.

Travelling on the N2 out of Cape Town can be fun at night. It is not uncommon to get barriers and bricks packed in the middle of the road to disable your car. We dont allow our kids to travel there late at night and I am often on the road but take the back route to avoid "problems".

Some months ago patients in a doctors waiting room were robbed at gun point by robbers with AK-47's here in Somerset West. No one was ever caught.

Norwegian friends who run an outstanding B&B here packed for Perth after they walked in to a local cafe that had just been robbed at gunpoint. 4 hr later the police still had not arrived yet the police station is less than 2 km away.

Neighbours were robbed across the road and 2 days later, before they were able to get walls up and advanced alarms in the robbers came back and cleaned them out completely.

30% of our road is in the process of immigrating this year .

South Africa is a stunning country to live in, the potential is enormous but the crime, the lack of prevention, and reverse apartheid make it very difficult to live a safe and full life here anymore.

Im not saying don't EVER come back - just think very carefully if you come back now

[Halo]

Originally Posted by keithjose

I am facing a massive dilemma, having left South Africa in 1992, travelled everywhere I could. I eventually settled in London in 1998 and have been here ever since. fantastic job, great flat, 2 good holidays a year, awesome car, actually not a bad life, but I miss the sunshine, the braai's, the beaches, the good ol south African lifestyle and of course my family. My finance who is British (I have dual nationality) is very keen to go, but I am just not sure. Crime I am not worried about, its the opportunities and the political uncertainty that gets me, there is so much negativity about SA now days and everyone I talk to say that in a few years its going to be another ZIM. HELP! Need to hear something positive to convice me that it will be all worth it.
thanks in advance
Keith

You sounds like me - Except for the wanting to go back thing......

SA will be Zim in x years - its all how you hedge your bets.... POWER will be a big problem as they have not even started construction of new plants.

Why not look at the USA or OZ if you want some sun or start to enjoy your freedom in one of the greatest countries in the world.

[Polony]

Originally Posted by keithjose

I am facing a massive dilemma, having left South Africa in 1992, travelled everywhere I could. I eventually settled in London in 1998 and have been here ever since. fantastic job, great flat, 2 good holidays a year, awesome car, actually not a bad life, but I miss the sunshine, the braai's, the beaches, the good ol south African lifestyle and of course my family. My finance who is British (I have dual nationality) is very keen to go, but I am just not sure. Crime I am not worried about, its the opportunities and the political uncertainty that gets me, there is so much negativity about SA now days and everyone I talk to say that in a few years its going to be another ZIM. HELP! Need to hear something positive to convice me that it will be all worth it.
thanks in advance
Keith

Hi there--just read your comment--have you decided as yet--I have been living in the Uk for 4 yrs now and I feel exactly like you do--those awesome braais, sunshine, smiling faces, beach, potjie kos I really miss. Dont listen to people, go down to SA first as a visit and see for yourself--a friend of mine just recently returned and said that SAfrica is changing at a rapid paste but all positive-there will be those that are negative but go on the website homerevolution and see the comments there. Loads of SAFAS are returning. Good Luck

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Polony

Hi there--just read your comment--have you decided as yet--I have been living in the Uk for 4 yrs now and I feel exactly like you do--those awesome braais, sunshine, smiling faces, beach, potjie kos I really miss. Dont listen to people, go down to SA first as a visit and see for yourself--a friend of mine just recently returned and said that SAfrica is changing at a rapid paste but all positive-there will be those that are negative but go on the website homerevolution and see the comments there. Loads of SAFAS are returning. Good Luck

Well of course, the homecoming revolution site is a government backed site to try and encourage people to SA, so its bound to be positive isn't it

[Polony]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

Well of course, the homecoming revolution site is a government backed site to try and encourage people to SA, so its bound to be positive isn't it

Hmmmm Ya ,Stravinsky. I was on there when I was 2 minded just as keith and there are loads of different peoples opinions stated on there. The forums are open for discussions and everyones view or opinion is respected-it is a government site but you can state exactly what you feel -it helped me alot in making my decision. Not everything is government influenced. Home revolution is a site to draw people back to SA but people can also state why they wont' return. Read it, maybe you will be surprised.....