South Africa Safe for Students?
I don't want to be the millionth person to ask this, but I am a white female student from Canada hoping to do a work term in South Africa. I would be placed around Durban North. Would it be safe for me to go, would there be precautions to take?
South Africa - 5 Answers
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1 :
Like many countries South Africa do have crime and statistics are a bit high. I for instance travel the world often and there is one rule I obey and which has kept me safe in some of the most dangerous areas and that is to simply always be aware and use good common sense. Kwa-Zulu has some of the higher crime statistics and you could look at comparisons on http://www.statssa.gov.za/ also good for all stats. HOWEVER everybody agrees there is a moratorium on crime stats and nobody knows the real figures. South Africa can be a great country and Kwa Zulu especially is stunning with beautiful mountains, coast line, natural beauty and zillions of game parks. Stunning. If you work in the rural areas it is slightly unsafer due to poverty. Political clashes are serious business and people get killed. Zuma might change this (?) Never ever take a minibus taxi. Never WALK outside at night. Take care of Durban City centre! Stick to your friends. Choose carefully. Hope this helps. If you specified the work you do it would have been easier. (PS: EMJAY has a very good point regarding comparing to Brazil. I was just there recently)
2 :
It depends on what you are doing and with whom. I do not want to scare you off, unlike some would on these threads, but at the same time South Africa and Canada are worlds apart. It is not because you are white inasmuch as you are not South African, please do not take this wrong way but there are parts of South Africa that make the so-called ghettos of North America look like Beverley Hills!!!! I would recommend you get informed and bring emergency AZT with you as well, for Natal you may need vaccinations, I am not sure about malaria for Natal- check it out. I am a South African and I love my country but I would not want to see anyone hurt either, please come and do your good work for our country but BE safe. If you want to compare South Africa to another country then Brazil would be a fair comparison in terms of inequality, richness and poverty, extremes and, sadly, personal risk. On the other hand it is not all bad so don't get freaked out either. LOL!!! Durban might be a bit hot for a Canuk....? ______________________________________________ The golden rule is "the tiger is master only of his own jungle". Get informed when you travel around. ______________________________________________ To the answerer below (Hopeful)- what are you chirping on about? That site Africancrisis.org is the biggest load of one-sided scaremongering that I have ever seen. It manipulates the suffering and fear of victims of crime in order to make a right wing point about a democratic South Africa. The next fact you give, Colombia, well Colombia is ranked as the FIRST most dangerous country in the world, South Africa a humble second!!!!!!! Talk about recommending the fire instead of the frying pan. ______________________________________________ The answerer above (Zulu) makes some very worthy and valid points about personal safety and with an avatar name like Zulu he must be a "banana boy" (someone from Natal)!!!!!!!
3 :
Had you asked the question a year ago I would have answered you as follows:"You may go but be very careful. Durban North is one of the more affluent areas of Durban - my husband's best friend is a neurologist (and since we are talking colour - he is white) and he lives in Dbn North. They are very aware of the growing crime problem but have not emigrated yet..." It is however not a year ago it is March 2008. South Africa has gone from teetering on the edge to falling into the abyss within the last six months. The triggers for this have been a combination of the following: SA power supplier's (Eskom's) bungling and lack of fwd planning over the last ten years has caught up with it and it can't fulfill the demands for electricity supply - country wide rolling black-outs have hit SA this year. Secondly, one Jacob Zuma who is either/all of crook/jester/cameleon has become the newly elected leader of the ruling ANC which has sent the thinking members of the SA polulation into an exponential increase in applying for emigration from SA to an anywhere. Thirdly South Africa today does not exude the same de facto tolerance towards others (especially whites) as was attempted by Mandela who endeavoured to bring about a multi-cultural rainbow nation - SA is becoming more racially and anti-white by the day (it would be a good idea to read Mbeki (current SA 'leader's' weekly online newsletter for you to judge this for youself - Just google it as per the description given and it will come up). There is now a NEW AND INCREASING OVERT HATRED BY THE BLACKS TOWARDS THE WHITES as never felt before. This hatred is not an isolated emotion it has permeated many black people. There is also another new phenomenon and that is the apparent belief by the SA police force that they are demi-gods and are above the law and may threaten and assault the public when and if they in they believe it is in the interest of apparent law and order - i.e. a de facto police state. My advice to you would be to read a www.africancrisis.co.za which collects news stories from a variety of sources and make up you own mind about the current state that SA is in. But if I would be in your position I would rather choose something safer like Columbia, Port Moresby or even the Gaza strip than South Africa at the moment.
4 :
Yes I think it would be reasonably safe. However, before you go I would suggest that you go and see your G.P. for all your inoculations - (in other words your injections), such as typhoid and malaria. Also be very careful in what rocks and stones and logs you lift up as there are some deadly poisonous spiders and snakes in that area. and also two types of scopion - the black one and the red one I hope this wont deter you from going over there as on the whole it is a very nice place Thank you Clive North
5 :
Zulu has given your most level headed answer to this question. It's certainly very different from Canada crime-wise, so may be a huge shock t o your system, but hey - the world is a big place and there to be enjoyed (while taking reasonable precautions!)
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