Comments on: Stunning things in South Africa that made me decide to stay

By: Claire

Claire — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:25:17 +0000

hi,

I love SA, I really do – the weather, the people, the diversification, the challenges and yes the list could go on as to why….. but and I mean a serious BUT!!!!!! why should I have to walk around with mace or have a baseball bat next to my bed, why should someone feel they have the right to enter my home uninvited? come on girl get a grip on reality and realise that we shouldnt have to bounce back and get over something like crime…. talk about human rights… what of mine as a resident of the county?

with that I just want to end with that crime is world wide so if you leave the country make sure you do it for the right reasons thank you and good night hehe

By: W H Smith

W H Smith — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:07:43 +0000

All this fuss. I too have travelled and experienced crime and other problems. I have only been in South Africa for 53 years after having been born in England and lived in India. I had a bit of a problem getting a job at first because no one seemed to know what to do with an Englishman with an Indian education. Someone took a chance on me and I am still here. My only complaints are general incompetence and officials being deployed according to their level in the A N C food chain. Also, government policy is doing a lot to drive skilled people, of all races, to leave for greener pastures. I guess I will stay.
William

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:10:44 +0000

dude, how are you. lets have a debate mate.

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:57:34 +0000

G’Day Gill,

You will love Australia. It is very safe. And things just work. It is a 1st world compared to ZA which is a 3rd world.

What I am trying to say to Nic is that it is not enough to be possitive and wear blinkers. Nic and his maaitjies really need to do something to change ZA. Being possitive and denying the facts is actually the wrong thing to be.

Nic – get off your butt, get angry and fix things.

By: mongal

mongal — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:38:10 +0000

@ LM- You definitely have lost your MOJO bro!
@ fokjulle- FOKJOU..
and now the sad part is.. that this is more mature than that entire thread

By: Marcia

Marcia — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:05:55 +0000

Hi guys

I am Portuguese with parents from Mozambique, they left the country 30 years ago, some of the country problems I lived very intensively, but from outside, I haven’t had any bad experience as my family had and hope to not have one. I visit the country three times before on holidays and have been very lucky I suppose, I actually moved to SA 2 months ago, for work and living, I came because I felt always that was something out here I needed to see and experience, I am aware of the problems in all ways, but I have one thing to say:
I think most of you have to get out of this country, try to live in any other for more than 2 years and experience other countries problems, in all sides, and come back to SA completely refreshed, and look from a better view, how great, and beautiful your country is, how much you can do, you can see, and enjoy, try to look to the bright side more than to the negative, as I think you are attracting the negative side of SA to yourself without realising, I read this book before about law of attraction “SECRET” you should read it and try to understand before you made your opinion, and try to put into your life’s, and I can tell you straight away you will change a lot of your life around you, you will never let the negative side affects you again, and that is the attitude we need from all that want to stay and fight for SA,
SA is a stunning country, I never thought I could ever been so happy with such a simple life, meet such a friendly environment, people are nice and smiley all the time, you don’t get that anywhere in the world, the weather is the best, food is fantastic, so concentrate your life’s in good things and leave the bad ones away, is so much you can do, so much opportunities just try to have the best from everything and you will feel less angry, less frustrated and much more happier,
Have you been smiling lately, have you tried to smile to someone that is in a bad mood, angry, or sad; because I believe that no one can ever resist to a smile,

So guys big smile to all of you, and Sheena I agree with you “I love the country and its people.” That is what make this country special but try to not focus in the bad things.

I think you all gone out of the subject, as when I typed “Stunning things in South Africa”, I was actually trying to find more things and places to go and see, experiences I could get, and sadly found this negative debate and approach, I couldn’t resist to just say, if you are angry and sad or even frustrated, this is not the place to get that written, as the subject is stunning things about SA, did you all not get the point????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great day!

Be Happy

By: Gill

Gill — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:05:04 +0000

Hi,
I was emailed a link to your site and was amazed to see the conversations underway. It is amazing to see the positive focus of many and this demonstrates our resilience as a nation. I work in a field that involves facilitation of workshops with people. I recently ran workshops where I was priviledged to travel across SA and have dialogues with groups (mixed in race, occupational level, gender etc). It was humbling to hear some of the things people are doing in their communities to positively shape change. These were people at an ordinary level making daily contributions towards positive change. There were different views on the future for SA and high emeotion and debate. Evidence of the challenge of living with the polarity of the good and bad. I believe strongly that there is more good here than bad. And there is undoubtably bad things happening here. BUT having said that I am going on a 2 year work contract to Australia. I feel very sad at what I am leaving but also hopeful that the country, people, institutions will keep working through the challenges, revitalising & growing. I am not ready to give up on a future here but want the opportunity for my childrent to experience a different reality. My two girls have been hijacked twice with their grandmothers, we have all within our family been touched by crime through armed robberies & hi-jackings. We have managed to bounce through it all for the last 4 years and did get the counselling required. I have used the opportunity to explain to the children the history of our country and why crime is so rampant here. We have got involved in social responsibility initiatives to try contribute our share in shaping the change. But having said that as a familiy we still don’t feel safe living here. When we discussed the possibility of moving to Australia my daughter’s first question to me was “is it safer there?”. So we have decided as a family to try out a different space for 2 years. I feel very sad at leaving what we have here and as friends that are staying have said to us – the people that are remaining are choosing to become part of the solution. I think it takes incredible courage to stay. I commend the people who create these websites, organise marches and are practically & physically engaging with the social problems & helping to create a stronger SA.

By: John

John — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:29:06 +0000

Hi,

I’m living in Australia currently. You’re safe here. Thing’s work. Health care is for everyone. You can apply for jobs without them checking your skin colour. Alot feels like the old S.A.

Cons:
It’s not home so you have to make it home.
Miss SA Energy
Miss Beauty
Miss people, culture, food and cheaper holidays (berg, beaches).

By: Nic Haralambous

Nic Haralambous — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:40:43 +0000

HAHAHAHA – Ok fair enough!! you did get me and I am easy!! It’s just so often that it happens so I jump to the offensive!

I do appreciate the debate and the constant visiting!! It helps!!

By: fokjulle

fokjulle — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:21:02 +0000

Nic, I’m just ragging you. You’re too easy. You’re doing a good job with this site. Hence me visiting regularly…