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xpat forums : In Johannesburg : safety living in suburbs of josi

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csh Sep 29 2009 12:45 AM
safety living in suburbs of josi
we may be moving to josi in february.  all i can find on the internet is how horrible the crime is and how vigilant you have to be and just know that you will be mugged/robbed, etc. this makes me very fearful for myself and my children.  could someone please put my mind at ease?  I have lived a very sheltered life and the stats for josi are very overwhelming.  i know you can't promise nothing will happen- but does it happen all the time, every day and do i have to walk/drive around paranoid all the time?  can i walk my dogs/ shop/go out without fearing for my life or that of my kids?  Please help!
Bevin Oct 08 2009 01:52 PM
Like any urban centre, you have to be aware of your surroundings. Johannesburg - South Africa in fact - can be scary when you look at the crime stats. But that doesn't mean that people don't live. They go to parks and walk their dogs in their nieghbourhoods and go to restaurants. People don't go out walking at night as you would in some big cities. You do have to be alert when pulling into your driveway, though, and take precautions as you drive - like putting your bag in the boot as opposed to just next to you on the seat. There are more alarms and private security companies than I've seen in any other city and high walls and barred windows that boggle the mind. So I suppose you have to know that you'll likely be living behind high walls and putting on a home alarm at night and you have to be well aware of the possibility of things like car jackings and violent house break-ins that are a reality here..parts of Joburg can fool people into thinking it's all first world. But it is a developing country and with that comes all the issues of developing countries...
guccislave Nov 19 2009 01:50 PM
Everything Bevin has said is absolutely true. Coupled with the risks you take by coming to live here you gain the opportunities .. Weather, unequaled lifestyle, etc.

To give you an idea, we live in a older area of Johannesburg in a ground floor apartment and have never felt threatened - even though our wall are floor to ceiling glass.

It's a wonderful place - have a look at http://youmakejoburggreat.wordpress.com/ to get a feel for the vibe.
h00 Nov 23 2009 09:30 AM
the vibe in jozi is amazing. having lived in Cape Town, i can say that in Jozi people are amazingly friendly and extremely sociable. It's very cosmopolitan and integrated.

With regards to crime, just be aware, when driving or having parked, don't leave stuff on your seat. Be vigilant when driving at night. However don't stress too much...it's a great city with a great vibe.
courtscorner@telkomsa.net Nov 23 2009 11:59 AM
I am not sure if anyone can or should put your mind at ease concerning crime and safety!  We are living in an violent world and you need to be aware of the things that can happen.  I love living in South Africa for the last 8 years and I personally have not been robbed or anything but I do know people who have.  Just like living in Chicago or New York, live your oown life as best you can, be aware of your environment and educate yourself and family on preventative measures.

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