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Original poster

Would you move to Cape Town?

381 replies

ZarZarGabor · 15/08/2023 17:56

Sorry posting here for traffic.

A good job opportunity has come up to move to Cape Town with work, likely for 3 years or so. We have one pre-school age child and are aware childcare options there are more affordable.

We have spent some time there before and so are alive to some of the issues the country faces including crime, load shedding and bureaucracy. However we still absolutely love the place and want an adventure.

Would be grateful to hear the views of people who have direct experience living there, especially with a young child.

I know lots of people will have a “friend of a friend” who has had bad experiences in South Africa, but I’d really like to hear from people who actually live or have lived there about day to day life for an expat and the sorts of considerations we might have forgotten to factor into (we have already considered visas, healthcare, security, costly mobile phone data etc).

thanks for any advice.

OP posts:
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notlucreziaborgia · 15/08/2023 19:41

ZarZarGabor · 15/08/2023 19:18

Thanks for all your responses and I am sorry to hear of the bad stories some of your friends have experienced.
We are looking for a move for around 3 years with a young child so educational / employment issues are a consideration but less directly relevant. We are also likely only looking at a gated community or camps bay time area as a poster suggested.
we do have friends and relatives living there (who are by no means armed to the teeth as a pp suggested) but hearing these viewpoints is helpful as I appreciate we may only have heard the good sides.
if anyone has actually lived there themselves and can think of day-to-day issues we might not have thought of that would be incredible helpful.
Appreciate your responses, good and bad, so far!

1, don’t walk around at night
2, don’t be flashy with your belongings
3, stay the fuck away from townships
4, Avoid Cape Flats

Those I knows that live/d there are/were indeed armed to the teeth, on top of having private security. There’s a high level of gang and gun violence in Cape Town and people arm themselves accordingly:
https://ewn.co.za/topic/cape-town-gun-violence

Cape town gun violence

EWN - South African news: access breaking news alerts, sport, business, entertainment, opinion, multimedia and cartoons. Eyewitness News – INSIDE THE TRUTH

https://ewn.co.za/topic/cape-town-gun-violence

CleptoCleoCookoo · 15/08/2023 19:40

Absolutely not.

Have heard first hand some serious, unusual for the UK type of violent crimes from both visitors and tourists. Including one couple who were robbed and threatened with having their hands chopped off if the wedding rings, bracelets and watches didn't come off in the next 10 seconds on their own honeymoon. The robbers did this just a step away from the airport in a taxi robbery and they were planned, armed with large chopping knives to do it then and there.

Hearing that level of violence repeatedly makes me think you'd be mad to go there. You hear about terrible stories in every country of course, but the sheer normalisation of brutal violent crimes beyond any sort of proportion to its population... No fucking way would I go. Not a chance in hell.

hennybeans · 15/08/2023 19:39

As a woman with dc, I wouldn’t even consider a holiday, let alone move there.

I don’t know tons of South Africans, but every one I have ever met has only had horror stories to tell about their country. The land itself seems like one of the most beautiful places, but the crime isn’t worth it, no matter how cheap the childcare.

beachbitch · 15/08/2023 19:38

It's beautiful to holiday in but the reality of living there is that you and your DC will not have the freedoms you enjoy in the UK. Gated communities, bars on windows, impossible to walk or drive anywhere you like, you have to keep your wits about you. What is happening to South Africa and its people is a crying shame and I would never go back to live there again.

MissPettigrewIsWFH · 15/08/2023 19:38

Interestingly, a British friend of mine married to a South African moved over here last year from Cape Town. They are now moving back as they missed the lifestyle so much. With kids.

Yes crime, load shedding etc, but I'd consider it for a limited term adventure.

Caveat: I used to work in war zones so I might be a bit cavalier!

Annaissleeping · 15/08/2023 19:35

It just seems to be getting worse so even if you were ok in the first year or two, I'd be so nervous of what is going to end up happening. My TikTok has just been full of the violence associated with the taxi strikes in Cape Town, it looked horrific.

I've never been and I'd love to go as my friend is from there. But she hasn't been for years and while she used to say it's fine if you know where to avoid, she also said that as a rape victim she finds comfort in being there because such high numbers of the popultation have been victims of severe violence or sexual violence that she didn't feel stigmatised and you could always find support on a bad day. That made me go, hell no to going until it is hopefully one day much safer. It does look like a magical country in terms of its positives.

Maddy70 · 15/08/2023 19:34

I lived there for a short time for work. I loved it however there really is an undercurrent. I never once went out alone at night

Ispini · 15/08/2023 19:34

Not a hope in hell. I used to visit regularly from another African country where I lived with DH who is from SA. His whole extended family have moved to the UK and US and none of them would ever go back. It only takes one break in to totally change your life forever. You also have to think about the ability to speak Afrikaans as it is a priority language in a lot of areas in the Cape.

amlie8 · 15/08/2023 19:32

Husband is SA. I read the OP to him – he laughed and said no no no.

I would love to visit to see wildlife, but I think I am too scared.

TheGirlFromTomorrow · 15/08/2023 19:30

I dated a guy who grew up there. Some of the things he told me about would literally make you feel ill. I don't even want to repeat it.

The relationship didn't work out because he was very screwed up mentally.

Tiddlywinks63 · 15/08/2023 19:28

My husband’s 87 year old aunt was raped by an intruder (she lives in a gated community, has barred windows and a secure room set up but was attacked walking from her car to the door. This was only last year.
No way would I even consider it.

HikingforScenery · 15/08/2023 19:25

My engineer friend and his doctor wife live there, doing very well and love it. They’re raising children there too.

MrsToothyBitch · 15/08/2023 19:25

No. Never. I've spoken to too many people who've left due to the danger. Especially with children.

I've had a very lovely customer be very excited to go home to visit SA but admit he could never live there again and get quite emotional whilst telling me he wished his brother would leave with his young family.

colouringindoors · 15/08/2023 19:24

No. South African colleague of mine left five years ago and says they'll never go back.

willWillSmithsmith · 15/08/2023 19:24

I’ve known a few South Africans and all of them have personal, first hand experience of serious crime. They have no intention of moving back. Although I hear it can be beautiful it’s a place I’ll never visit let alone live.

Original poster
ZarZarGabor · 15/08/2023 19:22

Summerrainagain1 · 15/08/2023 18:14

I LOVE Cape Town and probably would move there for a year or two, just for the experience. But South Africa is really dangerous and plagues with political and social problems, I would not choose to raise my kids there long term.

Thanks for your response. I think we feel similarly. We love it there but wouldn’t put down long term roots. Just an adventure for 2-3 years. I agree that the social and political problems are a concern, and don’t seem to be improving

OP posts:
FoodieToo · 15/08/2023 19:19

My lovely friend left there and moved to Ireland . All her family doing similar . It does not seem to be safe at all .

Original poster
ZarZarGabor · 15/08/2023 19:18

Thanks for all your responses and I am sorry to hear of the bad stories some of your friends have experienced.
We are looking for a move for around 3 years with a young child so educational / employment issues are a consideration but less directly relevant. We are also likely only looking at a gated community or camps bay time area as a poster suggested.
we do have friends and relatives living there (who are by no means armed to the teeth as a pp suggested) but hearing these viewpoints is helpful as I appreciate we may only have heard the good sides.
if anyone has actually lived there themselves and can think of day-to-day issues we might not have thought of that would be incredible helpful.
Appreciate your responses, good and bad, so far!

OP posts:
tescocreditcard · 15/08/2023 19:14

No. I work in care and know dozens of white South African live in carers who are never going back. It's not safe anymore.

Ennyyy · 15/08/2023 19:10

I have a South African colleague who has said more than once that there isn't an ice cube's chance in hell she'd ever go back. We had a South African client in a couple of weeks ago and they talked at length about how they wouldn't live there now and that it's getting worse.
I don't know if it makes a difference, but as others have mentioned it, my colleague is black and the client was white.

hairyharrison · 15/08/2023 19:10

I am south African and grew up in cape town. Never in a million years would I take my child back there. I'm too nervous to even go back on holiday with her.

notlucreziaborgia · 15/08/2023 19:09

No. There’s a reason why those in Cape Town that can afford it live in gated communities with extensive CCTV, hire private security and are personally armed to the teeth.

Peddlefaster · 15/08/2023 19:06

I lived there over 15 years ago and I would only move there now to somewhere like camps bay or a gated community with security. Lots of people don’t experience violence but you do have to be very careful. I might go with small children but I’d be well gone by teen ages.

Berlinlover · 15/08/2023 19:05

Not in a million years.

Tartareistasty · 15/08/2023 19:00

How is the situation. Is it just farmers targetted or anyone white?
I wouldn't tbh. Even without the current issue, the crime rate would put me off

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