Whats South Africa like?

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lei$hler

yebo south africa rocks

Jim

First the good news. Parts of S. Africa are extremely beautiful. Cape Town in particular is stunning. The people are generally quite energetic and nice. The cost of living is low, but this is part of the crime problem as the wages for many are low.

That said, crime is a very serious problem. Very serious. In my view it is worse in Johannesburg than in Cape Town. Much of the country is simply destitute while a good portion lives a nice lifestyle.

I do not live in S Africa; I've have visited several times on business. Crime was always a topic among the people I met with and the locals are very cautious.

My advice to you is to go visit. You need to make the decision and you'll be able to see for yourself what the situation is like.

taz

i have read all of the answers that have been written to you and i think that you should plan a trip there and see if you like it first. there are both up sides and down sides to the country, being south african i would know this. i have just recently come to uk, i might have to go back home in march next year and can tell you honestly that the thought of having to go back to pretoria really scares me. the crime is really high i both pretoria and jo'burg. you don't really acknowledge it until something bad happens to you or your family. my brother was shot in his bed at 3 in the morning on the 23rd of june this year. we can only thank God that he is alive today, but the trauma that one goes through really takes it's toll on a person. not to mention all the hospital bills, they all came up to about over R220 000.00 it's alot of money. the good things about it are the people,the vibe, the weather, the scenery,the wide open spaces,the beautiful sunsets,the peace and quiet in the suburbs. the people are really fantastic and super friendly, not to mention helpful. the coastal areas are really alot safer. if i were you i would really do alot of research and maybe just go there for a holiday to see how you feel when you are there.you won't battle at all to get a job there because you're not white.ive had a huge culture shock coming to london,but you know what, even if i do have to go back home i can always tell myself that i experienced it for myself. i think you owe yourself that much to see first hand for yourself else you gonna waste a lot of time thinking, "if only i had". i hope this along with all the other advice makes your decision easier for you. i wish you all the best in whatever choice you make and may your heart be content with it.

Basil P

A Great country indeed - a true model of democracy
Yes,it has crime but so does the rest of the world.
Good infrastructure
Vibrant economy and industry
Very warm / hospitable people
Burgeoning middle class
You donot have to "live" in downtown JHB -
There are thousands of affluent residential suburbs ( the average home sizes : on stands between 1500 to 2500 sqm , 6-8 rooms , double garages , and "space". Costs Zar 1,5 to 6.0 million)
In comparison to other parts of the world - you can "LIVE like a king"

Jenna d

I live in Jo'burg and i love it. Many people have different perceptions of Jo'burg and i think it would be wisest to experience it for yourself before you form any opinions about it. Yes there is crime and you've gotta be careful but i wouldn't say that it's so dangerous that you can't walk the streets during the day. it also depends on the area you are going to stay in. Some areas are safer than others, if you do move here you must make sure that you research which areas are safest. South Africa is a beautiful country and a great place to live in my opinion!

cgroenewald_2000

He will be about as safe here as he is anywhere else. S.A. is a very nice place to live in. Nothing like what you guys see on tv.

kharix

Johannesburg.. cool place.. hot summer cold winter...

dWali

Crime is high, but it is not law less. Johannesburg is the biggest metropole in South Africa.

There is a very large Chinese community.

The BIG 4 accounting firms (KPMG, Delloitte, Ernst & Young, PWC) have offices there. There hundreds other smaller accounting firms.Unemployment is approximately 40%.

Ensure that your qualification will be accepted in South Africa.

Pisces

I was in South Africa a month ago. I is absolutely a facinating place. I had the chance to see Cape Town, Jo'burg, Durban, Pretoria and Sun City. I faced nothing dangerous. We went out at nights, without any cab or so, but nothing had happened, we safely got to the places we wanted to. I can tell you that it will be a great chance to live in Jo'burg. It is hard to explain, but you'll see it, when you start living there; it is a land of paradise. I love South Africa. And I recommend everyone to see, explore and live there.

Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan-Mar

well u gotta visit it aint ya!

poepies

I am a South African and I love this country. But I must confess, I wouldn't want to stay in Jo'burg for all the money in the world.

I stay in Pretoria and I LOVE IT!!!!

Tweety

Come and find out for yourselves. People experience places different. You might like it here very much. SO come and have blast. Just be careful around jo'burg specially Hillbrow (hope the spelling is right) area.

boskafur

Let me tell you how south africa now works on job aplications you get awarded by skin colour not by skill

which is unfair

i thinks you got your answer

gunner2za

south africa is great.....im not crazy about Johannesburg, but it is not lawless

HoZaN

I think it's gonna be good step ... good luck .

blo247

I think you should take the offer. First of all There is alot of crime in S.A. but according to my opinion i think jo'burg is much safer then Los Angeles down town. It all depends on where in jo'burg you plan on living. Places like hilbrow in jo'burg wouldn't be a good place to live because of all the foreigners that live there, most of the crimes here are committed by them. I'am a junior accountant who lives in jo'burg and there are alot of jobs available if you not white. Hope this info answers your question. Good luck

Kitty

Most people that immigrate have a culture shock. Why not come for a short trip and see how you like it and then decide for yourself? Personally I love it in South Africa.

tahanni

That's not the wisest of places to move, because there's a lot of crime in some places, and the law is more relaxed out in Africa. However, Benoni is a nice place to be at, and it will be a wise move for your career choice. I would suggest a visit there first though, to see how you like it. It'll be different from what your used to, currency, living conditions, free time activities and the weather are all things you need to consider. Also, there's people of many races living there.
Hope this helped you. I was born in Africa and lived there, in south africa before I moved to the uk. Africa is a really lovely place.

Chucky

Well i struggled for 4 months to get a job as a junior accountant, mainly cause im white!

SA is a great place but the crime rate is pretty high!

carokokos

I lived in SA most of my life and have just been over for 2 months. I could never live there again. The people who tell you they love living in Joburg, are people who have become numb to the terrible violent crime issues. They see living in gated complexes with high walls topped with electric fences as part of normal every day life. South Africans in general have lost sight of just how abnormal their society has become, because they've had no choice but to try and survive and deal (psychologically) with an extremely stressful way of life.

SA cannot be described as a model of democracy - very far from it. And living like a king there? Perhaps in terms of the gorgeous food and wonderful scenery (although Jhb itself is pretty ugly), but otherwise only if a King has to lock himself in his own home for safety, look over his shoulder while he's out and has the highest risk of being murdered or robbed outside of Colombia!

deborah n

South Africa, a beautiful country. Yes crime is very high in Jo'burg so perhaps Cape Town might be an alternative the money might be a bit less but at least you will have the ocean and besides Cape Town is more laid back. Go on line and check out work possibilities in South Africa.

-One Love-

To tell you the truth, the police force can be a bit otherwise! Jo,burg is not so safe in some places! It all depends where you want to live in Jo'burg (everything happens in Jo'burg)! But because you are black, you shouldn't really have a problem because it would be easy for you and your husband to find jobs! if I was moving to S.A. I wouldn't personally go to Jo'burg....it is nice in some places, but I wouldn't really live there! A lot of people in S.A. are accountants, so you shouldn't have a hassle! The government just needs a kick in the backside and wake up and see what's happening in S.A. If I had to move to S.A. I'd move to a rich area...I don't know why, but I would!

hope that helps=)

johnnyhawkyns

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita

Have a look at this site S.A. is second in the world for murders but first for murders with firearms. Those that say there is crime everywhere is right but it is the shear volume of crime that would worry me.
Look at murders in UK then SA there is absolutely no comparison.
More people are murdered every year than was killed in Northern Ireland in 20 years. That is during the time of trouble.

David

If you value your life don't go

David

Hmm.. depending on where you come from, I don't recommend it.

It's a great place, although, I think immigrating there from overseas would be downgrading, the crime rates are too high, it's just not the same as it was 20 years ago.

patti

I love South Africa...I was born there but left about 2 years ago. If you want to be murdered in your own bed, chopped up and sold for muti.................then go and live in South Africa

Brad Morris IV

Bella, welcome to the SA section of Answers. As you can see, most of the contributors here live in a fantasy world, because even though violent, brutal crime is out of control, the country's infrastructure is crumbling and hundreds are succumbing daily to AIDS, the Proud South Africans will tell you - with a straight face - that it happens everywhere else.
If you're coming to South Africa, bring a gun.

parismatchess

this is the end of human kind
I kill all or I kill my conscious

Robespierre

Don't go is my advice. Lawless is not the word.

HahaYou'rePwned!

I went to South Africa before on a holiday trip,and I almost got robbed there. Because I was travelling with another family and they told me that they once got robbed by some people while going to the bank just opposite the hotel we're staying in.
I was about to go to the same bank opposite,luckily the concierge had the currency for me.

It's quite a pleasant and thriving place,but you will have to be aware of the poor people there. The security in South Africa is not as good as other countries,as the poor people there often rob. Don't ever go on street alone. Job prospects otherwise,I'm not that sure you'll have to check it out but I think it shouldn't be too bad.

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