Stuart James

Don't believe the press and negative publicity - i have been here for 3 years and this place is heaven on earth.

Crime was worse in the UK.

The standard of living is amazing!!!

If you want anymore informatin give me a shout

Stu

Esmeralda

Stuart, I may be moving to J'burg and I'm worried about a few things but mainly the crime. The area I would be living and working is Woodmead. Do you know anything about it?

I would really appreciate your advice.
Thanks.

Stuart James

HI Esmeralda

I dopn't know the area specifically but i will ask some freinds if they do. In general Joberg's crime rate has improved dramatically.

As with most countries you have to be a little bit careful but common sense eliminates 95% of the risk.

Whats bringing you to SA? Work or pleasure? What are you going to be doing over here and for how long?
Look forward to hearing form you.


Stu

Esmeralda

Its relocation with work.... I'm still hoping for Dubai instead! I'm really unsure about SA.... its only just been thrown into the ring as an option. Still lots of research to do before making up my mind. Thanks for your reply. Would appreciate hearing about Woodmead area when you can.

TouristTrap

BOLLOCKS as you say in the UK.

DanMarsden

Well, I don't know about that, but from what I hear, SA has the highest rate of theft and sexual assaults.. Somehow I don't think that would be matched by the UK. But then again, I might be wrong.

The Druid

Been there, done that for ten years, wouldn't recomend it to any one with a white skin.

Back in the not so sunny UK now, big sigh of relief !!!

DanMarsden

Sad though, isn't it? That racism in SA is no longer talked about (at least no longer causes 'outrage') because it's now against people of white skin rather than black. SA is what I call the epitome of racism (what others call "reverse racism" - although technically, the term racism is in no way restricted to blacks) and double standards. Not even anti-racist activists who are against "any sort" of discrimination based on colour (unless they mean that white is not a colour) are willing to talk about what's going on in SA.

The Druid

Dont you think its ironic,that when the rest of the world condemned the white South African Govt for being racist and they named it "Aparteit" (forgive my spelling if its wrong). Now that the "Majority Rule" the rest of the world has not condemned what is termed "Affirmative Action" in fact the rest of the world is actually supporting it.

South Africa is slowly becoming another Zimbabwe, Zambia , Angola, Mocambique etc etc etc, frightening I know but food for thought if any one is contemplating moving there !!

Becs

I'll be flying over there for a few months next summer, but I too am rather concerned about crime issues. I was told I'd be fine, because my skin is a light brown colour (most people think I'm from the Middle East). According to that theory, I wouldn't be subjected to the type of harassment that a white person would (though my father and sister are white), and the people I'm staying with are black..however, what does everyone here think??

-Becs

TouristTrap

Becs,

The majority of victims in S.A. are black, not white.

edited: Should have added that white folk are disproportionaly targeted, especially those living on farms.

The Druid

Youre probably right, the majority of victims are black, scary part of that is most crime in the black areas is not even reported, but what you have to bear in mind is that whites are a substantial minority, some more scary statistics 8 out of 10 rapes are not reported and in 2001-2 ish Johannesburg ranked as the most violent city in the world next to Bogata.

Makes you wonder BMW SA developed a BM that has flame throwers as an anti hi-jack device !!!, screw the 9mm Para, ill just toast him!!!

DanMarsden

Well, you have to look at the percentage of crimes against blacks in relation to the percent of the population they make up... A short while back, I got interested in this, as I was reading J.M Coetzee's Disgrace, set in S.A. I asked people living in SA, and they said the ratio of crimes against whites to the % of population they make up is very high. Don't know the exact numbers though..

TouristTrap

Isn't that just something??..Saw it on tv over here a few years ago..Something else that shocked me in the same documentary, was the couple who had laid landmines around the outside of their eight foot wall and had posted notices to the effect. They got tired of being targeted by crime.

Stuart James

Saw it on tv over here a few years ago..Something else that shocked me in the same documentary, was the couple who had laid landmines around the outside of their eight foot wall and had posted notices to the effect. They got tired of being targeted by crime

Thats the BBC for you - makes good news story so we all get shocked in the UK. No -one and i mean no-one has a car that shoots out fire and burns peoples legs off.