Mumsnetters past and present in Cape Town - urgently sought!

[stillenduringsurrey]

We are due to be posted to CT with my dh's company in January and I think there are some mumsnetters who live or have lived there.

I am in dire and urgent need of info on areas to live in, schools, and so on and so on.

I think that dejags lives there? Anyway, whoever you are, if you are a CT-er please come and give me info and views!

If it's for three years, and DH is on a good ex pat package, you should do it, in my opinion. South Africa has it's problems, yes, and you will have to get used to a different mindset in terms of personal safety etc. But ironically, while your home and car will need to be locked up etc, you'll find that children still ride to school and walk between each others' homes and that the overall friendliness of the people will make it hard to believe that there's a crime problem.

And so you know I'm not telling you to do one thing and doing something else myself - I would move back in a heartbeat if I could convince DP. But I can't. So for now, we're here. But the moment I sense a softening in his approach, we'll be there like a shot!

Thanks lth, I realised last night I still have her email address so I "spoke" to her last night.

Yes, I remember meeting you! I've messaged Fairi on facebook so hopefully she'll see this. Might take her a day or two though, she has 3 small children and I don't think she gets to check her messages that often.

Won't have to endure Surrey much longer then!

Thanks LTH. That would be great (how do you know that I'm not a hairy trucker, love? Hmm maybe we have met)

OK Bling - I kind of know what you're going to say I think.

And I feel awful posting this when I know the very tip of the iceberg about what is going on and I feel sure I will get very upset about it all if we live there but maybe I will be able to do something small to help...and I don't want to offend any SAs on here, I just want views...

Anyway, can I ask, security issues? We lived in Caracas (some years ago though, not now when I believe it's much worse) and I'm used to gated compounds,panic buttons,carjackings, (not personally but people we knew were carjacked) kidnappings and widespread fraud (apologies to any Caraquenos reading this). The thing is, I do get the feeling that carjackings in CT can go badly wrong because I've heard that the police aren't effective and so there is no impetus for a carjacker not to shoot you if you don't get out of the car quickly enough. Ditto with home break-ins. I don't think, for all its beauty and lovely people, I could really expose ds to that (although I did in Caracas I suppose)
In Caracas they would have tried to avoid killing you if they could. I think there is an element here of risk analysis but I guess I'd just like to know what it's really like.

Bling, posts crossed. We fell in love with Llandudno (dh and ds like surfing) but I think it may be beyond our budget. Looking at Hout Bay - I really like the idea of it, 'The Republic of Hout Bay' - and one of the things I like about it is that there is a squatter camp there and the locals are trying to improve conditions (an Irish guy has taken on setting up electricity etc) and I think that's a great way forward.

Schools: we have looked at Hout Bay (bit too relaxed for us!) and did fall for Bishop's but no places (and possibly too trad for us) the American College caught ds's fancy.

If you move to Llandudno, can I visit?! .

HoutBay is great, but as you say, schools a bit trickier so you'd have to commute a bit. Not too bad though - those roads are fine by day. If you liked Bishops, which is private, you could look at some of the excellent state schools in a similar mould and area - Rondebosch Boys or SACS in particular spring to mind. There's an excellent co-educational school as well in the area called Westerford (or at least, it used to be excellent anyway, and as far as I know, remains excellent).

The Hout Bay township is a fantastic place in terms of interesting things that are happening there. Also, if you're interested in community involvement, have a look at this website:

www.2waytravel.com

I cannot tell you what to do. But I can tell you that my parents live in Cape Town and have done for 40 years. They have security, but with the exception of some car break ins and one break into the garage, they have been okay. [i am touching wood]. I think you do have to be careful, but if you have sufficient security, and are careful about where and when you drive, you are okay. Millions of people live in cape town and absolutely love it - many of them my friends and family. Most of the people I know in CT, with the exception of DP's parents, would not move if you paid them zillions of pounds.

PS I'm getting married in Hout Bay!

Feel free to ask other questions - I can recommend some great restaurants and shops too!

Oh thank goodness I didn't offend you!

Ds is currently at a boys' prep in the UK so we would like him to kind of carry on like that if he can, but once he saw the American school and their robotic lego he was gone! The thing is, I can see that the SA schools offer more in the way of sport and tradition - ds likes touch rugby and none of the international schools offer it. Also I feel they can get better staff I think he will be offered a place at 'Wetpups' but he doesn't want single sex any more, which I kind of understand.

SACS has no places but I will check out Westerford.

You're getting married in Hout bay? When?

I used to live in sa but we were in joburg however been on holiday to cape town and love it. You have crime everywhere we lived in joburg for 12 years and the worst thing that happened to us was my db bike got stolen. Good luck.

Oh and meant to say I did all my schooling over there and the schools are fab better than the uk.

LL, on the plus side I was just blown away by its beauty. What a city - and the people we met were so lovely and kind, especially to ds.

Hi,

I'm SA, lived in Cape Town city bowl area for 8 years before moving to the UK. It's been 5 years since I left, but I return annually for Xmas holidays.

Southern suburbs are more English prep school areas, Northern Suburbs more Afrikaans speaking, but most schools are double medium so your son might benefit from getting a bit of Afrikaans culture mixed into school life. However, I would suggest you get yourself a property that is located in a secure complex, it will make life easier for you, you won't need all the extra security that you would for a freestanding home. The beach is reachable from anywhere within half an hours drive, unless you move towards, Stellenbosch. Somerset West is good too, my husband used to commute from there to Cape Town every day before we met.

I never had any attack or break in while in Cape Town, only had the trims from my car's window stolen. But I don't know what its like at the moment.

A friend of mine has a website that rents out property of South Africans living in the UK, usually the affluent type so nice big houses, good areas etc. If you want a link I'll post it. Your dh's company should also be able to give you a information pack giving you the relevent information you'll need. If you're commuting from Hout Bay to CT or anywhere from that area, be prepared for heavy traffic, traffic into Cape Town is always heavy in fact, the reason being that public transport is not your best option.

HI SP and thanks for the info. I think we would prefer a security estate too - just easier. There were loads of them in Caracas but I'm told that it's a new thing in CT, relatively. Do post a link for me - think dh's co use relocation agents who do all the work of setting up appointments but it would be useful to see what's out there so I can nudge them.

Hout Bay have loads of those kind of complexes, so if you are looking there, you'll find something quite easily I suspect. And I think there are a few "gated" areas there as well - where the house might be freestanding but an area of a few blocks is gated off with communal security.

I will be interested in feedback on Westerford. I went there.

oh, there are also some fabulous security spots in the southern suburbs - but very expensive - there's a new one going up in Claremont which is technically "flats" but oh my, they are about as similar to "flats" as we understand them as a trip to Brighton Beach is compared to two weeks in Mauritious at a five star resort!

But, again, assuming you're on an expat/sterling based salary - that won't be a problem?

I wouldn't mind at all living in a flat! As long as the cat can get in and out happily. He will have a field day (sadly) with all the beautiful birds out there - he is a terror. I think he will be so freaked out by the flight though that he may calm down for a few weeks at least.

When is your wedding??

Sorry - so busy giving you the hard Cape Town sell, forgot to talk weddings! We're getting married in Feb next year. Can't wait!

Unfortunately, online property searching in SA isn't brilliant. The Saturday papers all do fat property sections which are a must read if you're buying (or own, or are thinking about buying or would like to buy one day...). And there are a couple of big estate agents you could get in touch with like Pam Golding or Seeff.

Cape Town is a hilarious place. It really is the most cliquey place you'll ever live. But stick with it because once you're their friend, they'll never let you go (really - I still have so many good friends from school). But it does mean that things like the property supplements are read with the kind of enthusiasim you'd normally expect to see from teenage boys with their first porn stash. Similarly, they actually put birth, engagement, wedding and death announcements in the paper. And read them. Religiously. every single day. Regular conversation between my parents:
Mum: Oh, did you see old Harry P died last week?
Dad: Well, he was on his last legs for a long time. Poor guy
Mum: Was he still drinking so heavily?
Dad: Last time I saw him, about 10 years ago, yes? When's the funeral? We should go.

I am not sure if that comes across right, but really, it's amusing in RL.

DS will love the outdoor lifestyle and if he's a rugby fan, he's going to be in heaven. Pick up touch rugby games are constant and there are dozens of leagues around he'll be able to join easily. They used to do student season tickets for newlands which were excellent value for money, but that might not be so much any more because it's more international.

for you, be warned - shopping, while good, is not in the league of the UK. Fine for holidays but when you're looking for a cheap belt to go with that cute outfit you're wearing for Christmas, it won't happen> The variety just isn't there so things are difficult to find and/or expensive.

Yes it's wierd about the property thing - I think, don't they want to rent these things out? But think that rentals market is v healthy over there. That's what the agents say, don't know if it's true.

LOL at your parents' discussions.

Well, my flat has never been empty for more than a couple of weeks. But then, I have the perfect rental in that it's a cheap and cheerful 2 bed flat in a complex - perfect for a young professional or sharers etc etc etc.

But yes, I think rental is good there. It's just that finding the places isn't so slick.

Have fun

Watch out for the South Easter ("Cape Doctor") between Nov and Feb. They call it the doctor as it blows all the smog and smoke out to sea and clear the air in the city! Some photographers have field days in City Bowl on these days as people coming from Northern suburbs usually don't know if the wind is blowing and they come dressed in skirts etc.

Thanks LTH - got it and will use it! Can now be deleted happily.

Thanks

x

SP that website has me foxed! Maybe I am doing something wrong but it seems to want a lot of detail otherwise the properties can't be accessed - thanks but will leave it all to agent I think.

Had a look at Cluttons and they had some v nice stuff - I emailed them and they have just ignored me though! I think it must be a v different rental situation out there, UK agents would be jumping down your throat!

Just went on there, use the drop down
boxes on the left for a general search. Didn't ask me any info apart from how much, nr of bedrooms etc.

SP I'm still not managing but I'm sure it works actually just that I am a bit crap. Thanks anyway!