TIGGERRAF

I found this site while searching for something completely different, I was alarmed at the amount of negative comments. So here is our story.. My wife and I are both ex-British forces, we moved to South Africa ( Somerset West) in 1992 when they thought the country was going to slip into civil war. We have experienced a lot of crime and people close to us of also experienced crime some of it horrendous. Over the years we have made a few but good friends and they have mostly left, usually stating we are doing it for the kids. I must point out we do not have children. A few points I want to make,firstly living anywhere in the world I say you have to "Live by the Rules" to Survive. Some People say living behind bars is unacceptable, having alarms and doing security checks is embuggerance. Well I say it is just the price you have to pay for living in what is not far from paradise. In the 16 years I lived in South Africa I have traveled and explored as much as I can , we love the mountains the wildlife the rivers and the sea. I always say to people where else can you have the sea, mountains and desert all just on your doorstep. I have found the people that leave South Africa tend to be bitter and will therefore do anything to criticize the country. I would also be bitter if I was forced to leave for reasons out of my control, but I would just get on with my new life. Most South Africans do not make use of their country. I have found most of my colleagues don't even know of places a hundred kilometers away from Cape Town that I travel to. If you're just going to live in a country and stay in the middle of the town you might as well be anywhere in the world. If you love the outdoor life the sunshine South Africa is surely one of the most perfect countries in the world, the price you have to pay is "survival" . We are like a group of springbok being hunted by Lions occasionally one gets nailed on the outside of the group, we will jump around and make a noise run in every direction, but eventually carry on grazing.
Why do we stay? Because as I sit on my balcony above my swimming pool looking at the turquoise sea and the mountains beyond I cannot imagine going back to small gray terraced house, in gray weather and living with grey people. I look forward to weekend camping in deserted mountains walking on a deserted beach for miles, kayaking some stunning gorge or windsurfing on a blue Lagoon. Imagine if the only thing you had to look forward to was"Going down pub in the rain!"
Just be aware "Africa Is Not for Sissies"

shiftdelete

Good on you....you big hero! Somerset West is beautiful and you don't want to move- quite understandable.

I don't mind rain. As a pom you've obviously had enough- most pom expats are the same.
As for beauty- I've seen many more beautiful places than SA. As a bonus, I'm also glad I don't have to put up with black and white racism any longer.

A friend of mine said the same thing to me about 10 years ago- "Africa's not for Sissies"....I think he now regrets saying that- hope you don't.

whalewatcher

I always say to people where else can you have the sea, mountains and desert all just on your doorstep.

Southern Spain, Morocco, Peru, California, Oman

Daxk

Tigger, when I did'nt have the responsibility of a child,I too did a number of things that I no longer do.
I left SA when I was 54 and I will always love the Country.
Contributory factors in my case were what my life would be like in SA when I retired and had'nt left.
If you are retired where your pension and retirement investments are being paid to you in a foreign Currency rather than the ZAR then you should be ok.

If However,it is ONLY local Currency then I'm reminded of the Retired Zim /Rhodesia Railways manager whose 40 year pension buys him a packet of cigarettes a month.
You lead an active lifestyle,any idea of how much Medical Aid costs if you are earning Rands?
Have you been into a Government Hospital for those who cannot afford Medical Aid?
For when your lifestyle becomes less active?
Enjoy SA while you can,I will too, when I return for Holidays which are funded by Euro's rather than ZAR.

As to your Africa is not for Sissies comment,are you implying that those who have left wer'nt tough enough?
Because if you are,I can assure you that there are a number of people on this Board and others around who fought a bush war and have probably experienced far more than most British Forces personnel could dream about.

Tegwyn

Had a good laugh at Tiggerraff's version of heaven. You live behind bars, and know you are being hunted like the Springbok!! Thank God my shares in heaven are not always looking the best, peaceful hell here I come!!

Daxk

Just watched something called unbreakable on Channel 5, total crap,bunch of guys get put through their paces by some ex SA Special Forces,
bunch of wimps, with one exception,it was what every National Serviceman had to go through for 6 weeks not 8 days.

Tegwyn

Speaking of the "not for sissies" thing. Comforting to know one can turn to South Africa's finest for help when that emergency call comes in......http://www.news24.com/News24/South_A...431956,00.html Not!!! Unfortunately happening more often than not.

Stanley10

They responded to the emergency call Tegs.

Good to hear your views TIGGERRAF, always good to hear from someone who actually lives there.

shiftdelete

6 weeks? tsk, tsk- no wonder you guys were so soft... we had it for 22 weeks

shiftdelete

same old, same old...you just don't get it do you? are you still on oz?

Daxk

naaah,talking about the 6 weeks basic not the 12 week specialisation into Bats after,typical reality type junk on the TV, lots of Hushed Voicesand strained faces.... made me realise anew why i dont watch reality type shows

TIGGERRAF

Didn't expect to get such quick response. Apologize for not replying to every body sooner, but I'm recovering from posttraumatic stress disorder after reading deeper into the forum. After getting up this morning [after a terrible night's sleep convinced I was going to die] I thought I'd better do security checks on the perimeter, everything was in order , having a house on the hill is an advantage as we have a good field of fire when been overrun by the fuzzy-wuzzys! I was the last of the 1992 settlers and do feel a bit of a hero as I seem to be the last man standing!

I have thought long and hard about the opinions and experiences of people that have contributed on the forum. Conclusion , well I still believe people can come and live here in the Cape, you have to pick the right area. There are plenty of white outposts up the Garden Route where people are living the dream in relative safety. Paradise, my childhood impression was of a beautiful desert island, palm trees and white sand... And a Bunch of Bloody Cannibals! So my description of the place I live as "Paradise" is allowed. For my wife and I it has been 16 years of the most fantastic life , we are pretty much the average Joe came over with skills. Will the dream last forever? I was convinced I was Peter Pan but on discovering gray hairs two years ago I believe Peter Pan is about to leave the building.

With our government and forces pensions we would be able to retire in South Africa. Unless our health deteriorated the cost of decent medical cover would be enormous, and as we all know old lame springboks have a far greater chance of being nailed! [A note to any British ex-pats make sure you keep paying your class three contributions it is well worth it and only about £120 a year, for this you get a full pension, bargain! Although I heard recently the pension age is being put up to 96!]
Statement 'Africa is not for sissies' is just a saying we use in our armory of forces humor, a way to deal with the situation out of our control. For people that have left with their lives shattered there is no humor, for the farmers in Zimbabwe or the forces from the border war.

Despite all the news articles things are changing in my area. I travel home from work at 1 a.m.every night, two years ago you would never see any police, now I see several police cars every night and go through roadblocks occasionally. So they are trying, hopefully Zuma will get his machine gun and kill them all! Well it's a beautiful day here they haven't stolen the sun, so I'm going for a swim. Best wishes Tigger

TIGGERRAF

whalewatcher, I guess I should've added, and live and work. My father lives in southern Spain and it is basically "Full" not an inch of coastline free of housing. As for Morocco ,not viable . Peru, the closest I came was living in a swamp in Belize for six months, didn't really enjoy it. Peru does look beautiful though. Went to Miami once, beautiful girls the rest of it sucks. My uncle lives near Rochester, New York sleeps with a hunting rifle and pump action shotgun praying someone will break in.[mothers side odd people]. That just leaves Oman a friend works in Qatar and although has just bought to second holiday home in Somerset West his quality of life is nowhere near what I experience South Africa.Basically only stays for the money.

shiftdelete

Good post Tiggerraf. Your sense of humour is intact and you haven't developed a persecution complex from some mild criticism.

Quite obvious though that your Passport is at hand should someone block your sun.

Garden Route and the Cape is simply amazing. Our last trip to both areas a couple of months ago made me wonder why I left, but only for a while . Family still seem quite happy there though- its not Joburg thats for sure.

Daxk

Dont Forget the Claymores,the wires have copper centres which have high scrap values.