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Original poster

Move to Johannesburg?

46 replies

PolaDeVeboise · 09/03/2022 21:35

If your OH was offered the job they'd always wanted, would you relocate, taking your 2 primary school aged children with you? Would it be an exercise in madness?

OP posts:
AdditionalCharacter · 09/03/2022 21:40

I'd take a look at the crime rates in Johannesburg, they're pretty grim. You have to have lots of security on your house, including bars on the windows and doors.

I lived in SA in the 80/90s, not far from Johannesburg and it wasn't bad then, no way would I even think about a holiday there now, let alone live there.

ouch321 · 09/03/2022 21:41

There was a v interesting thread a few months back about moving to S A if you search it up.

22EL23 · 09/03/2022 21:42

I personally wouldn’t due to crime rates

BobLep0nge · 09/03/2022 21:45

No.

Pyri · 09/03/2022 21:45

Absolutely 100% not

HermioneWeasley · 09/03/2022 21:48

Under no circumstances

DappledOliveGroves · 09/03/2022 21:50

No. Living in SA is a depressing experience. Barbed wire around the perimeter of your garden, electric fences, panic buttons, car jacking, sky-high rape and murder rates. Nope.

Thedogissnoringagain · 09/03/2022 21:51

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at poster's request

Happylittlethoughts · 09/03/2022 21:53

I visited in the 90s and family living there had grim experiences. Our visit was fine, and as much as I adored it, I could not live there . The way of life is restrictive and scary.

summerlovingvibes · 09/03/2022 21:54

Husband moves here from Jo'berg & doesn't even have the desire to return to see family - he has some pretty horrendous things happen to him whilst living there and one thing he's been very clear on is not ever moving back / didn't want a family there etc.

sellingupslow · 09/03/2022 22:02

No Sad born and grew up there, left when I was early teens due to crime and awful experience, haven't been back 15 years later and still get PTSD about certain things!

It's a beautiful country but not one to live in

Wintersonata · 09/03/2022 22:04

Under no circumstances.

DancingQueen2018 · 09/03/2022 22:05

No. Just no way, DH would not dream of moving home. The crime is way out of control, I don’t know anyone living there who hasn’t been impacted, and not just petty crime either.

It’s such a shame, it’s a beautiful country. But like living in a prison.

HamCob · 09/03/2022 22:24

No way!
Visited overnight on the way to another place in SA.
We were driven from the airport to our hotel and I remember asking why all of the traffic lights were on green - apparently it's to prevent carjacking when people stop at red lights Confused
The local paper in our hotel room was a real eye opener. The front page story was about a woman in a local village being stoned to death for wearing trousers and then there's the townships/shanty towns, poverty like you will never have seen.
I couldn't have stayed there more than a night - no job or amount of money would be enough to make me move there.

KeyErro · 09/03/2022 22:27

For how long, what industry is he in and what kind of relocation package are they offering?

Joolsin · 09/03/2022 22:32

A friend and her family moved there - her husband had a big job in the car industry and was hired to head the Africa division. As they arrived in their beautiful house in a gated estate, the head of security met them, showed them around and then led them to the panic room in the middle of the house, stressed that they needed to keep a phone charging in there at all times. I would have been on the first plane home there and then. They lasted about 4 years and then came home.

TheUsualShitshow · 09/03/2022 22:34

I know someone who did this. Got carjacked on the journey from the airport, went back to the airport the next day and flew home.

I have a few SA friends who miss home desperately but can't live there due to the violence.

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/03/2022 22:36

If it was for 2 years and it would give him a real leg up, maybe. But go out for a couple weeks to see if you could stand it.

gingerhills · 09/03/2022 22:39

100% No! I have relatives there, trying to sell. they live behind razor wire. They have been burgled at gunpoint several times. their close friends who were outgoing businesswomen when they moved there now both suffer form depression and spend all day inside with curtains drawn, I think partly due to trauma from gun burglaries. You have to drive through red lights because they are used as a chance to hold up a car. No way would I take a child into that environment.

Calandor · 09/03/2022 22:43

Johannesburg is the Rape Capital of the World.

Just something to keep in mind.

Mano2020 · 09/03/2022 22:49

Never!

JimmyDurham · 09/03/2022 22:51

Know a guy who worked there in the 70s. He and his DW went back a couple of years ago, had a look at their old house and old neighbourhood. He said it was horrifying, Wouldn't go back for a king's ransom.

RampantIvy · 09/03/2022 22:59

I know someone who came from there to live here. She couldn't sleep at first because our houses don't have a panic room or bars on the windows, so she felt unsafe.

BonkersMark · 09/03/2022 23:07

It depends how old the primary school is, or if it's two different primary schools with different ages

godeeva · 09/03/2022 23:18

I am South African and moved here after marriage.

Three things to consider:
South Africans are friendly and hospitable and as a family it is fun for kids
Good private schools offer similar education and syllabus to UK - some with better teaching
You will always be on alert at home and when you are out because of the crime rate.

If you have to move, I suggest you consider Cape Town or Durban where crime is lower. Regular flights can fly you husband to Johannesburg within 3 hours where required.

My UK based husband loves Sa(we visit Durban regularly). But at the end of a month his nerves are frazzled. Good luck with your choice.

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