Any MN'ers in Johannesburg?

[CQ]

DH has just accepted a job in Jo'burg. Kids are 16 and 18 so I'm not planning on moving out with him straight away, he'll be back regularly on business and I'll come out once a month or so, or we'll meet somewhere else for trips.

Any recommendations for nice areas to live? His office is in/near Sandton and he'd rather not commute too far. Prob looking for an apartment in a secure complex with pool.

What's furniture shopping like out there? Is there an Ikea or equivalent?!

Very excited! We've been expats before but have been back in UK for 5 years now and I'm very settled so not tempted to move with him full time, at least until youngest is finished school.

There are a few Joburg posters - there was a thread recently & a couple popped up there.

There isn't an IKEA in South Africa I'm afraid.

We are moving to the Eastern Cape next spring - very excited.

Hello yes I'm here, I live in the northern suburbs, the traffic is horrible for driving into Sandton from here though so you'll probably want to live a bit closer. Parkhurst, Hyde park area is not too far and nice - you'll be living in a house there though rather than a gated community.
There is no ikea which is very irritating, coricraft is nice for sofas, just ordered a new one at the weekend!
Feel free to ask me anything, I've been here for 10 years now.

RainbowCookie I have a question! Do house rentals tend to be unfurnished? We are moving to near-ish Mthatha so not your patch but thought I would ask anyway!

I have only seen unfurnished rentals near me, and it's very unfurnished, you'll need to buy all white goods as well

White goods here are very expensive as all imported, have a look at hirsches website to get an idea of prices

Sorry to have posted and disappeared! Life has been a crazy round of holidays and pointless admin. Work visa application for SA is unbelievable. We have to provide police reports for every country we've ever lived in for more than a year. Good luck with finding any record of us in some of our previous postings. We've been fingerprinted, photographed, had to make gazillions of certified copies of passports, marriage & birth certs, academic certs, (at £5 a pop, nice little earner for our local solicitor.) Also a lovely morning in London trailing round embassies.

And now he's gone. Starts his new job today. I'm a bit pissed off as due to all the admin, we didn't get our romantic mini-break that we were hoping to have before he started. But the house is nice and peaceful!

He's in a serviced apartment to start with as can't sign a lease until his work visa comes through, which could take months. So at least he doesn't have to spend these first few weeks looking for furniture!