Johannesburg Travel Forum

Hi to All,
I have chance to move career and all family to Jo'burg.
Fair good job,salary as well..
But,I am full from Info about crime,robbery,murders,and so on,you know what I mean.
Is this really looks like it?
I have two litle children,11 and 6 years old.
Did I have to wary about every day transport of my childrens in a way to the school,to Karate club,to Piano teacher,as we used to be here in my own country?

Do you ,normal peoples-carry a guns?Do you have chance for self defence against crime?
What is about Police?
Or the robbers first kill you,and after that put some intersting questions to you?
What is this all about?
As far I know ,the peoples are living there, families,childrens..
What's daily life looks like ?
Life behind closed door,in a "golden cave"?
I would like to see an itenerary of one normal family with small childrens in Jo'burg,from morning to the dark(presuming after the dark there is no life anymore? )
Please,help me if you can,I have only a couple of months to make a decision-move or not to move>SA?
Cheers
Brazors

Hi

I live in Kempton Park about 20km from Johannesburg. I assume you don't plan to live downtown Jhb but in one of the suburbs. It would be more or less the same as living where I live. We do have an alarm system with armed response. I don't carry a gun, don't even own one. WE have an automatic remote controlled gate (more because of the convenience than for safety). My son (in grade 8) walks home from school with many other children in the vicinity. The streets are full of children in the afternoons. The little one (he is 11) I fetch from school.Most schools (primary) have aftercare where the kids stay safely and do homework and extra-curricular activities until the parents can fetch them. Jhb has some excellent schools (private and state schools.)If you need info on school you can always ask me and I will find out for you if it is a good school.

We do go out at night. We also go into Jhb at night to the Civic Theatre or to visit friends in Melville (a suburb of Jhb). Most armed repsonse companies will meet you at your house if you come home very late (we have never felt the need to make use of this).

I regularly attend meetings and other activities at the school where I teach at night and come home alone.

We stay alert at night but nothing serious.
You are welcome to ask if you need any other info. I have lived here all my life and I can honestly say I don't feel unsafe.

Yes there is crime in Johannesburg, SOME people carry guns with them, almost all properties are fenced and locked day/night. Most schools offer transport/parent drive their kids to school. Private security companies are every where to offer their services (some are good/while others are not).

We've great shopping malls scarted throughout Joburg and places of interest for kids with ZOOs and peaceful bortanical gardens.

There is a lot of night life, depending on your taste and budget, mostly you'll have to use your car to get there and back.

There are lots of decent residentail areas in subsurbs surrounding Johannesburg (NOT CENTRAL JOBURG).

For a closer look visit:
www.property24.co.za

My suggestion is that you come on your own for a week or so and get a better understanding of Joburg before bringing the entire family.

Hi
I stay in Pretoria,but work in Joburg.What the people say is true Joburg is very unsafe(like most big cities-even a bit more)That said,Joburg is where the money is,there are good private and public schools and it depends where you stay.The normal people that I kinow do not carry guns.South Africa is a nice place to stay but be carefull as it is very dangerous-the weather although makes up for it :-).Good luck with your decission

Johann

sorry,i didnot understand were r u living at this time.. i go to SA almost once every 15 days...allways i stay in sandton...in mine opinion downtown is terrorific...my meetings r into the hotel...
I'm From Italy
All the best 4 u

Hi Man

Jo`burg is bad but not all bad as you have written down here. I`m living here for for a few years now and Just like cleocat and the other guys mentioned stay away from down town JNB. I think there is crime everywhere in all big cities but I think the taxi drivers are the scariest of the lot.

Where are you gonna be working in JNB and where do you plan on staying? This will make matters easier as JNB is a big city that is divided in North , South , East and West and not all the places here is bad.

Well as for your kids , my younger sister also walks home from school and mom drops her off in the afternoon as she does modern dancing and they have never had any problems of any sort.

I think that you are putting yourself and your family in real danger. I don't know what you are getting paid while you are working in Jhb, but I can tell you that JO'BURG has the highest per capita crime rate in THE WORLD! Despite what these people have said about Jhburg, I recently read an article from a white person that left after she escaped from three black men that had tortured and killed her husband, raped her repeatedly and beat her children unconcious. She was able to alert the guards but the savages had escaped with most of their valuables. Unfortuanatley, this is not an isolated incident. It happens all the time.. She will be in therapy for the rest of her life!
I would go and stay for a week and then decide. It seems that since "liberation" South Afica has decsended into anarchy.

Good luck.

Oh how I disagree with you tonythetraveler. JNB is Bad but man you have really gone over board now. I`m living in JNB for almost 11 years now ,I have been in and out of JNB City Centre ,I`ve been to some of the townships like Soweto and so forth , sure we read about crimes that takes place in the newspaper and yes its true what you have read. Don`t read you read of crimes like such in your newspaper?

I guess we all entitled to our opinion and I have to agree with the people that lives there daily live in JNB because they know what`s going on around them. As for the new government sure they not the best but since they around we had more opportunites than we ever had or would you rather prefer to go back to the old apartheid days?

Eish, TONYTHETRAVELER your story is indeed sad, however that is an isolated incident. We wouldn't have anyone living in Joburg if that type of crime is the order of the day.

Joburg is an interesting place to live in and is home to people of all races and creed. The reality is that your budget and taste detects where you can live.

Hi

Sorry for using your mail as a discussion board about the crime in South Africa.I however do think it is a good thing to hear the people that stays here opions.

The crime that the person above explained like he said is not issolated and yes it happens often.(I was mugged in Joburg and a friend was shot at a robot-hijack attempt).Although it is more privelent in Joburg,even Pretoria is crime ridden,my parents were held up at gunpoit about 3 years ago.You propably also read the story about the Mother grandmother and baby that was highjacked in Pretoria by 3 black men.They raped tortured and killed the Grandmother, mother and the also raped the 6 month old baby before they shot her in the head
I don`t believe you will find 1 single family that wasn`t affected by crime in South Africa to a lesser or greater extent.


South Africa is a beautiful country,and most of the people here are decent and good people.i believe you will find no place in the world that is completely safe,but South Africa do have more violent crimes than the rest of the world.

The weather is much better than in Europe and the people here are nicer.If you earn a good salary you will also be able to have a good standard of living.Just remember to weight the positives up with the negatives and rather come for 3 weeks to Joburg go to suburb and to schools and make an informed decisions.I like South Africa mainly due to the people,but it is bad...Except if you are very wealthy and can stay in a estate or security area-

Again hope you can make the right decision

Hi to All,
I really wish to say Thanks to all of you for the suggestions,info and advices.
This is great Board on Virtual Tourist.
Yes,the schedule will be like that, I have to spending a couple of months allone,after what I'll decide about the future.
Thanks of lot again.

Good Luck !!!!

Atilio