South Africa – would we be silly ?
Jul 4th 2010, 11:32 am
#46
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,424
Re: South Africa – would we be silly ?
*sigh*
Fine. Whatever.
Come here and you will die, your kids will be eaten and your house taken over by ANCYL thugs.
Happy now?
I wrote a long and impassioned response, but deleted it before posting. I just can't be bothered to go through this argument again.
Unsubscribe. Cheerio.
Fine. Whatever.
Come here and you will die, your kids will be eaten and your house taken over by ANCYL thugs.
Happy now?
I wrote a long and impassioned response, but deleted it before posting. I just can't be bothered to go through this argument again.
Unsubscribe. Cheerio.
I'll swing past your area later this month and if I see a single white kid on a bicycle I will retract my post.
Jul 4th 2010, 12:39 pm
#47
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 20,821
Re: South Africa – would we be silly ?
Hi OP
ME-Dundee lass born and bred,been living in SA for 17 years now.
OH-English born but living in SA since he was 7 so nearly 40 years on.
KIDS-all born here in SA now 15,13 and 7(boys).
SCHOOL-Private all the way costs me R12000 P/M.Govt.schooling not an option.
MY HOUSE-worth 1.5 mill(to rent same would be around R10000 P/M) 4 b/room,2 lounges,pool,servants qrtrs,aircon,fully walled,barbed wire,burglar bars and security gates all round and burglar alarm.We live 160kms North of Durban.
MEDICAL AID-Private for a family of 5 costs us around R6000 P/M,government healthcare not an option.
BUSINESS-We own 2,no black partners,I can employ who I want and no BEE restrictions.Having said that,we would probably grow expedentially(spelling ?) if we were BEE compliant but after being embezzled twice in the last 2 years to the tune of 750,000 and 500,000 respectively by those so-called "previously disadvantaged",I am a bit reluctant to let go the reigns for a 3rd time.The law did not favour our plight and the perpetrators walk free today!
LIFESTYLE-We live very well as in eating out when we like,taking holidays when we can get away,and we are a 2 car family.Kids are very restricted unlike their cousins of similar age in UK.They cannot take a bus to the local mall and take in a movie etc. we have to fetch and carry them everywhere.They do not walk to friends homes as it is not safe so again-fetch and carry.They have bicycles they cannot ride unless we drive them to a "safe" area.This is all they have known so they generally do not question their lack of freedom but having come from UK myself,I want more for them and know this is not a "normal" way of life.
SECURITY-Our businesses have been broken into (lost count) approximately 20 times in the last 5 years where computers,money,vehicles,stock etc have been stolen.Our home has been broken into 6 times in the last 5 years and been cleaned out of all electronic equipment,bedding,linen etc.My husband was hi-jacked at our front gate 2 years ago,thankfully they took the vehicle and left him alone.My staff have had handbags,cell phones stolen from their offices by "customers".I can go on but the bottom line is,NOT ONCE has anyone been caught or convicted of any of these crimes committed against me and mine.The same cannot be said if this were to have happened in a more civilised country of that I am certain.
EARNINGS-To cover our "comfortable"lifestyle,we take home a joint income of around R100,000 p/m and we are considered very fortunate.
THE PLAN-getting the hell out of here by December to go to Australia,would have gone sooner but with the world economy going belly-up,it has been an upward battle to sell up and we are still climbing that hill.
THE REALITY-There is nowhere in the world that you would be completely safe and free of violence,drugs etc. etc.and to think otherwise would be utter stupidity.BUT lowering the "statistics" to an acceptable level within a lifestyle is a more realistic goal.
ME-Dundee lass born and bred,been living in SA for 17 years now.
OH-English born but living in SA since he was 7 so nearly 40 years on.
KIDS-all born here in SA now 15,13 and 7(boys).
SCHOOL-Private all the way costs me R12000 P/M.Govt.schooling not an option.
MY HOUSE-worth 1.5 mill(to rent same would be around R10000 P/M) 4 b/room,2 lounges,pool,servants qrtrs,aircon,fully walled,barbed wire,burglar bars and security gates all round and burglar alarm.We live 160kms North of Durban.
MEDICAL AID-Private for a family of 5 costs us around R6000 P/M,government healthcare not an option.
BUSINESS-We own 2,no black partners,I can employ who I want and no BEE restrictions.Having said that,we would probably grow expedentially(spelling ?) if we were BEE compliant but after being embezzled twice in the last 2 years to the tune of 750,000 and 500,000 respectively by those so-called "previously disadvantaged",I am a bit reluctant to let go the reigns for a 3rd time.The law did not favour our plight and the perpetrators walk free today!
LIFESTYLE-We live very well as in eating out when we like,taking holidays when we can get away,and we are a 2 car family.Kids are very restricted unlike their cousins of similar age in UK.They cannot take a bus to the local mall and take in a movie etc. we have to fetch and carry them everywhere.They do not walk to friends homes as it is not safe so again-fetch and carry.They have bicycles they cannot ride unless we drive them to a "safe" area.This is all they have known so they generally do not question their lack of freedom but having come from UK myself,I want more for them and know this is not a "normal" way of life.
SECURITY-Our businesses have been broken into (lost count) approximately 20 times in the last 5 years where computers,money,vehicles,stock etc have been stolen.Our home has been broken into 6 times in the last 5 years and been cleaned out of all electronic equipment,bedding,linen etc.My husband was hi-jacked at our front gate 2 years ago,thankfully they took the vehicle and left him alone.My staff have had handbags,cell phones stolen from their offices by "customers".I can go on but the bottom line is,NOT ONCE has anyone been caught or convicted of any of these crimes committed against me and mine.The same cannot be said if this were to have happened in a more civilised country of that I am certain.
EARNINGS-To cover our "comfortable"lifestyle,we take home a joint income of around R100,000 p/m and we are considered very fortunate.
THE PLAN-getting the hell out of here by December to go to Australia,would have gone sooner but with the world economy going belly-up,it has been an upward battle to sell up and we are still climbing that hill.
THE REALITY-There is nowhere in the world that you would be completely safe and free of violence,drugs etc. etc.and to think otherwise would be utter stupidity.BUT lowering the "statistics" to an acceptable level within a lifestyle is a more realistic goal.
And then you read all the negative posts on the Oz forum about Australia and you really have to laaaaaarf.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...49#post8675049
for example.
Post #114
Last edited by Alfresco; Jul 4th 2010 at 12:48 pm.
Jul 4th 2010, 2:51 pm
#48
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14
Re: South Africa – would we be silly ?
Hi OP
ME-Dundee lass born and bred,been living in SA for 17 years now.
OH-English born but living in SA since he was 7 so nearly 40 years on.
KIDS-all born here in SA now 15,13 and 7(boys).
SCHOOL-Private all the way costs me R12000 P/M.Govt.schooling not an option.
MY HOUSE-worth 1.5 mill(to rent same would be around R10000 P/M) 4 b/room,2 lounges,pool,servants qrtrs,aircon,fully walled,barbed wire,burglar bars and security gates all round and burglar alarm.We live 160kms North of Durban.
MEDICAL AID-Private for a family of 5 costs us around R6000 P/M,government healthcare not an option.
BUSINESS-We own 2,no black partners,I can employ who I want and no BEE restrictions.Having said that,we would probably grow expedentially(spelling ?) if we were BEE compliant but after being embezzled twice in the last 2 years to the tune of 750,000 and 500,000 respectively by those so-called "previously disadvantaged",I am a bit reluctant to let go the reigns for a 3rd time.The law did not favour our plight and the perpetrators walk free today!
LIFESTYLE-We live very well as in eating out when we like,taking holidays when we can get away,and we are a 2 car family.Kids are very restricted unlike their cousins of similar age in UK.They cannot take a bus to the local mall and take in a movie etc. we have to fetch and carry them everywhere.They do not walk to friends homes as it is not safe so again-fetch and carry.They have bicycles they cannot ride unless we drive them to a "safe" area.This is all they have known so they generally do not question their lack of freedom but having come from UK myself,I want more for them and know this is not a "normal" way of life.
SECURITY-Our businesses have been broken into (lost count) approximately 20 times in the last 5 years where computers,money,vehicles,stock etc have been stolen.Our home has been broken into 6 times in the last 5 years and been cleaned out of all electronic equipment,bedding,linen etc.My husband was hi-jacked at our front gate 2 years ago,thankfully they took the vehicle and left him alone.My staff have had handbags,cell phones stolen from their offices by "customers".I can go on but the bottom line is,NOT ONCE has anyone been caught or convicted of any of these crimes committed against me and mine.The same cannot be said if this were to have happened in a more civilised country of that I am certain.
EARNINGS-To cover our "comfortable"lifestyle,we take home a joint income of around R100,000 p/m and we are considered very fortunate.
THE PLAN-getting the hell out of here by December to go to Australia,would have gone sooner but with the world economy going belly-up,it has been an upward battle to sell up and we are still climbing that hill.
THE REALITY-There is nowhere in the world that you would be completely safe and free of violence,drugs etc. etc.and to think otherwise would be utter stupidity.BUT lowering the "statistics" to an acceptable level within a lifestyle is a more realistic goal.
ME-Dundee lass born and bred,been living in SA for 17 years now.
OH-English born but living in SA since he was 7 so nearly 40 years on.
KIDS-all born here in SA now 15,13 and 7(boys).
SCHOOL-Private all the way costs me R12000 P/M.Govt.schooling not an option.
MY HOUSE-worth 1.5 mill(to rent same would be around R10000 P/M) 4 b/room,2 lounges,pool,servants qrtrs,aircon,fully walled,barbed wire,burglar bars and security gates all round and burglar alarm.We live 160kms North of Durban.
MEDICAL AID-Private for a family of 5 costs us around R6000 P/M,government healthcare not an option.
BUSINESS-We own 2,no black partners,I can employ who I want and no BEE restrictions.Having said that,we would probably grow expedentially(spelling ?) if we were BEE compliant but after being embezzled twice in the last 2 years to the tune of 750,000 and 500,000 respectively by those so-called "previously disadvantaged",I am a bit reluctant to let go the reigns for a 3rd time.The law did not favour our plight and the perpetrators walk free today!
LIFESTYLE-We live very well as in eating out when we like,taking holidays when we can get away,and we are a 2 car family.Kids are very restricted unlike their cousins of similar age in UK.They cannot take a bus to the local mall and take in a movie etc. we have to fetch and carry them everywhere.They do not walk to friends homes as it is not safe so again-fetch and carry.They have bicycles they cannot ride unless we drive them to a "safe" area.This is all they have known so they generally do not question their lack of freedom but having come from UK myself,I want more for them and know this is not a "normal" way of life.
SECURITY-Our businesses have been broken into (lost count) approximately 20 times in the last 5 years where computers,money,vehicles,stock etc have been stolen.Our home has been broken into 6 times in the last 5 years and been cleaned out of all electronic equipment,bedding,linen etc.My husband was hi-jacked at our front gate 2 years ago,thankfully they took the vehicle and left him alone.My staff have had handbags,cell phones stolen from their offices by "customers".I can go on but the bottom line is,NOT ONCE has anyone been caught or convicted of any of these crimes committed against me and mine.The same cannot be said if this were to have happened in a more civilised country of that I am certain.
EARNINGS-To cover our "comfortable"lifestyle,we take home a joint income of around R100,000 p/m and we are considered very fortunate.
THE PLAN-getting the hell out of here by December to go to Australia,would have gone sooner but with the world economy going belly-up,it has been an upward battle to sell up and we are still climbing that hill.
THE REALITY-There is nowhere in the world that you would be completely safe and free of violence,drugs etc. etc.and to think otherwise would be utter stupidity.BUT lowering the "statistics" to an acceptable level within a lifestyle is a more realistic goal.
Thanks for your input. Dundee, you’ll nae be a stranger tae a pie then
Forfar bridie now there’s a yummy fir ye.Sounds like you have a rough time and if I read into your “THE PLAN-getting the hell out of here” you have had enough . I get the feeling that South Africa has moved into denial mode with regards to a situation over there (like you have described).
There is no doubts about it that South Africa is shown as having an extremely high murder rate but yet I do not seem to see many reports in the press and there are a few news sites and I study the readers comments and it is as if life is normal. Concerning
If 90% of the crime is in the townships, what then is the motivation for these (township) crimes as I believe the townships are the poorer areas ?
Well good luck with your selling-up and move to Oz.
Ta ra the noo
Jul 4th 2010, 10:48 pm
#49
In Estepona
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Estepona, Spain
Posts: 633
Re: South Africa – would we be silly ?
Just reading this thread out of interest. I've got a south african friends here in Spain who absolutely refuses to go back there. Despite being in Spain over 5 years now without any legal status. Theyre very restricted with having to live on cash in hand jobs as theyre not on the system for lawful employment. Their life is kinda grim. If they leave they'd never get re-admitted.
However they are far far happier with this situation than a situation they'd have to go back to in South Africa. And I read with interest to see if what they say about Jo'burg is true, or has improved since they left. But with the sounds of it it doesnt.
To the OP, I really cant understand your attraction to South Africa. Yes its vibrant and has its good side. There is a great community spirit with people. So go on holiday there. It sounds like the weather interests you? Well move to Spain then. Its a similar climate. From what i've read about S.A and what my friends here have said about it, it'd be rather cruel to be taking your son down there too.
However they are far far happier with this situation than a situation they'd have to go back to in South Africa. And I read with interest to see if what they say about Jo'burg is true, or has improved since they left. But with the sounds of it it doesnt.
To the OP, I really cant understand your attraction to South Africa. Yes its vibrant and has its good side. There is a great community spirit with people. So go on holiday there. It sounds like the weather interests you? Well move to Spain then. Its a similar climate. From what i've read about S.A and what my friends here have said about it, it'd be rather cruel to be taking your son down there too.
Jul 4th 2010, 11:27 pm
#50
slanderer of the innocent
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
Re: South Africa – would we be silly ?
Just reading this thread out of interest. I've got a south african friends here in Spain who absolutely refuses to go back there. Despite being in Spain over 5 years now without any legal status. Theyre very restricted with having to live on cash in hand jobs as theyre not on the system for lawful employment. Their life is kinda grim. If they leave they'd never get re-admitted.
However they are far far happier with this situation than a situation they'd have to go back to in South Africa. And I read with interest to see if what they say about Jo'burg is true, or has improved since they left. But with the sounds of it it doesnt.
To the OP, I really cant understand your attraction to South Africa. Yes its vibrant and has its good side. There is a great community spirit with people. So go on holiday there. It sounds like the weather interests you? Well move to Spain then. Its a similar climate. From what i've read about S.A and what my friends here have said about it, it'd be rather cruel to be taking your son down there too.
However they are far far happier with this situation than a situation they'd have to go back to in South Africa. And I read with interest to see if what they say about Jo'burg is true, or has improved since they left. But with the sounds of it it doesnt.
To the OP, I really cant understand your attraction to South Africa. Yes its vibrant and has its good side. There is a great community spirit with people. So go on holiday there. It sounds like the weather interests you? Well move to Spain then. Its a similar climate. From what i've read about S.A and what my friends here have said about it, it'd be rather cruel to be taking your son down there too.
Some of them ended up having to return. They seem to be making the best of it.
Jul 5th 2010, 12:44 am
#51
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: South Africa – would we be silly ?
Make sure your husband get his British citizenship before you leave (if he's not already got it) ... if nothing else, it will make it easier for him to live in Spain.
Jul 29th 2010, 3:31 pm
#52
Banned
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 37
Re: South Africa – would we be silly ?
SA is great especially coast-Durban/Cape Town.
Moved here 3 years ago from the so-called promised land of California, USA after living in the US for 9 years. My second marriage was to a South African. So much happier here. I moved here with my 9 year old daughter from first marriage and as long as you have money (at least R40k month after deductions) you can still live like a king in this country.
Moved here 3 years ago from the so-called promised land of California, USA after living in the US for 9 years. My second marriage was to a South African. So much happier here. I moved here with my 9 year old daughter from first marriage and as long as you have money (at least R40k month after deductions) you can still live like a king in this country.
Jul 29th 2010, 4:30 pm
#53
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 20,821
Re: South Africa – would we be silly ?
SA is great especially coast-Durban/Cape Town.
Moved here 3 years ago from the so-called promised land of California, USA after living in the US for 9 years. My second marriage was to a South African. So much happier here. I moved here with my 9 year old daughter from first marriage and as long as you have money (at least R40k month after deductions) you can still live like a king in this country.
Moved here 3 years ago from the so-called promised land of California, USA after living in the US for 9 years. My second marriage was to a South African. So much happier here. I moved here with my 9 year old daughter from first marriage and as long as you have money (at least R40k month after deductions) you can still live like a king in this country.
Sent you Karma.
Jul 30th 2010, 5:27 am
#54
.
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Home, I think.
Posts: 9,217
Re: South Africa – would we be silly ?
SA is great especially coast-Durban/Cape Town.
Moved here 3 years ago from the so-called promised land of California, USA after living in the US for 9 years. My second marriage was to a South African. So much happier here. I moved here with my 9 year old daughter from first marriage and as long as you have money (at least R40k month after deductions) you can still live like a king in this country.
Moved here 3 years ago from the so-called promised land of California, USA after living in the US for 9 years. My second marriage was to a South African. So much happier here. I moved here with my 9 year old daughter from first marriage and as long as you have money (at least R40k month after deductions) you can still live like a king in this country.
Aug 9th 2010, 5:05 pm
#55
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 138
Re: South Africa – would we be silly ?
i lived there for 7 years and to a large part loved it....great weather/beaches/girs!!! (wow.) But I was a sinlge 27 y/o guy.
Then it started to get me down.
1) It's HOT. 9 months of the year it's like a heat wave UK summer. I love a few weeks of hot weather but week in week out just got me down.
2) Crime. sorry guys it's vicous. Aren't there about 900 police killed on duty every year? It's not like you see it everywhre not that bad but it's a big step up from ther UK.
3) Driving..OMG I considred buying a bible and making prayers before I got on the N roads. It's VICOUS. Those white taxi vans do not give a F*** and there's hardly any policing. Drink driving is expected. Agains thousands if not tens are killed on their roads every year.
4) Medical: Hey it's a very high standard but only if you are private....so it's no NHS system to fall back on.
Enjoy...
Then it started to get me down.
1) It's HOT. 9 months of the year it's like a heat wave UK summer. I love a few weeks of hot weather but week in week out just got me down.
2) Crime. sorry guys it's vicous. Aren't there about 900 police killed on duty every year? It's not like you see it everywhre not that bad but it's a big step up from ther UK.
3) Driving..OMG I considred buying a bible and making prayers before I got on the N roads. It's VICOUS. Those white taxi vans do not give a F*** and there's hardly any policing. Drink driving is expected. Agains thousands if not tens are killed on their roads every year.
4) Medical: Hey it's a very high standard but only if you are private....so it's no NHS system to fall back on.
Enjoy...
