Would you move to Cape Town?

Apartheid ended in the early 1990's so the last family members waited for nearly 30 after the formation of a democratically elected government before they left.

The rising crime rate rather than greater racial equality seems to be the reason for people leaving.

Do you think people should stay regardless of how dangerous it is just because some random on the internet might think they are racist?

It’s not likely that people with young kids were there during apartheid or would have been children at most. I have heard too that the lifestyle is different- by that they mean the crime is so bad that kids can’t ride about on their bikes and people feel on edge like prisoners in their homes instead of a relaxed outdoor lifestyle.

I suppose what you might conclude about that family is that they don’t like to live in a high crime society with horrendous levels of violence and sexual violence. To be honest, that’s everyone who has a choice.

@ZarZarGabor My DDs went to school in South Africa for a term on a school exchange. Years ago now but I was very struck by main the topic of conversation when we met South Africans. Security. Followed up by the poor government.

i therefore think you have to be prepared for a culture shock. People live differently. They do have safety measures in homes that we don’t have so much here. You would have to accept driving everywhere and thinking very hard about where you go and what you do. Crime is talked about by everyone and everyone will have advice for you.

We only met very rich South Africans. Now the ones we knew best are here. They can afford to be. Of course it’s a wonderful country and I would go. What I don’t think you have thought about is how you would feel wondering if you would be robbed at the traffic lights or there was an attempt to kidnap your dc. Both these happened to parents we met. Sometimes South Africans come across as harsh but it’s borne out of necessity. It’s a “no messing” sort of place.

that they don't want their daughters raped and murdered ? The ignorance of people who have only ever enjoyed the luxuries of a developed country is quite annoying. When you have experienced the fear of waking up with someone in your bedroom with a gun, then come back and give your opinion on the motives of people leaving South Africa.

Never under any circumstances, and I have been all over South Africa.
Cape Town is cold, wet, dangerous. You could be killed just for your car, or even wallet. The slums were worse than India, as was the violence.
Much prefer Durban.

Not in a million years no.

They can be as philosophical as they like but it won't protect them from the violence that is endemic there now. Anyone I know who still lives there is there because they cannot get a visa or passport to get the hell out.

Yabu. No of course I wouldn't move to Cape Town. I like it where I live.

I lived there for seven years but moved back 14 years ago. I loved living there for many reasons but hated the wild difference between the haves and the have nots. Eg Camps Bay where you have people driving their wanky cars up and down the strip with a mini settlement just a stone’s throw away. My DH (from Sa) and 16 year old DD went there on holiday this year (SA not Cape Town and had a fantastic time.). We still have family and friends living there and they’re ok. Would I move back there? Probably not as we moved here but for family reasons not safety. I’d say go for a three year adventure! You sound like you know the risks but are up for it.

@Norney - that's quite a leap you have made there.

No, as examples, I meant that they were unable to let their children travel/walk/cycle to friend's houses because of the violence, no longer able to go out at night, particularly as a lone woman and were not safe in their own homes.

All the people on this thread seem to know someone who has moved away because of fear of crime.... these are the extreme m cases. There are thousands of ordinary South Africans who take a more philosophical view and have no intention of leaving their homes.

I had 2 little boys from SA in my year 2 class when I was teaching. We were chatting about this and that one day and I asked what the best thing about their new life in the UK was. " We can play outside with friends" they said. In SA they went everywhere by car and ,when they got home, they stayed in their locked house and gated garden. In the UK they could ride their bikes in their cul-de-sac and call for their friends.

No. A colleague was shot and killed there just over a week ago. It’s a lawless place.

I'm African but not SA and I'd never live or even visit, there are safer places in Africa to visit and live if that's what your looking for... I think people are very interested in SA due to the fact a lot of white peoples live there well SA govt don't give a f--k about y'all.

If the posting is for three years, you're not exactly burning your bridges with home. If you want to do it, despite the crime (which would worry me, I have to say - I have never been, but have close relatives there).

The fact that there is no social security and many South Africans feel that there is no future for their kids there is irrelevant. It's a simply a short, paid adventure, which you say Is something that you are craving.

My husband is from Cape Town.

He, both his siblings, his parents, all his cousins and his uncle all moved to the UK to get away from there.

I'm not sure to be honest but the violence does feel indiscriminate, I think because it stems from poverty. You can sense the desperation in the country, it's so sad.

I've got a friend in Cape Town, and no it's not safe in the slightest. Panic rooms, private security, guns in every room, don't stop for anything when driving anywhere. Is that really how you want to live? She's married to a wealthy south African so they can afford to live in a very nice area and he knows how to stay safe, but even so, its bloody dodgy. The other issue she has is that although she has a great job out there, she still has to come back to the UK every three months to renew her work visa, and she has lived in SA for decades.

So no, you couldn't pay me enough to go and live there. I also think that I couldn't be morally comfortable in a country of such extremes and such corruption.

I’m South African but emigrated 15 years ago because of crime and my personal experience of it. My cousin was an A&E doctor in Cape Town and has said she will never move back to SA after what she saw working in the hospitals around CT. It’s just not worth it.

Well yes obviously, but from what I understand attacks on white farmers are rising and mood escalating so I wondered if it's only farmers or if it has branched out to all white (and generally light) folk

Black people are victims of crime there, just as much as white people are.

If you are born there you can live quite happily as you become used to a certain level of daily stress and/or fear that you actually don't even notice as it's low level. If you are born in the UK, it would be an extremely difficult adjustment because violent crime is just not as prevalent here.

I was there for work for 2 months. In that time two people were shot and killed outside the gates of the place we were staying in two separate incidents. I felt really uncomfortable with the need for armed security at the gates of our complex and I felt very unsafe driving around especially at night. I don't know anyone who hasn't been robbed/ had their security dogs poisoned. I would consider it if it was just me and dh but no way would I bring my child there. I'd be worried about their safety and what they'd be exposed to. The poverty and corruption is horrendous and I wouldn't feel comfortable turning a blind eye to that in order to enjoy myself so I don't think I'd be able to (nor would I want to) switch off from that. I don't think it would give the quality of life you think it would and there's lots of other places I'd go before SA as beautiful as it is.