Is it really that bad in SA?

cguy said:
I expect that given another 10 years abroad, retiring in SA will become unthinkable. After a few more years you will find that you start to develop a sentimental attachment to where you are now, and after subsequent visits to SA, you will see that not only has your attachment to SA waned, but that what you were attached to, is no longer there anyway.
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Maybe. Currently not particular attached to anything - not planning on staying put. Perhaps in 10 years as you say I'll be less mobile

The retiring in SA is more a practical consideration. English speaking, good weather and cheap. Only issue is security...and that is currently a dealbreaker
 
HavocXphere said:
Maybe. Currently not particular attached to anything - not planning on staying put. Perhaps in 10 years as you say I'll be less mobile

The retiring in SA is more a practical consideration. English speaking, good weather and cheap. Only issue is security...and that is currently a dealbreaker
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I was of similar thought in my first few years - a big thing is likely how your UK career goes. Tying in your reply in that other thread, the U.K. will offer a lot more when you hit 2-bar. :). Given that it's early days, I expect you have a lot to look forward too.
 
cguy said:
I expect that given another 10 years abroad, retiring in SA will become unthinkable. After a few more years you will find that you start to develop a sentimental attachment to where you are now, and after subsequent visits to SA, you will see that not only has your attachment to SA waned, but that what you were attached to, is no longer there anyway.
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Every year away also softens the SA security attitude, I'll often leave my car parked outside unlocked, we wake up or come home and discover we've left the back door unlocked or windows open, that old SA habit of going around and checking every door and window is locked and bolted, every security light is on, the alarm is on etc eventually fades, going back to SA without that "security is everything" mindset could be fatal..
 
Dave123 said:
Every year away also softens the SA security attitude, I'll often leave my car parked outside unlocked, we wake up or come home and discover we've left the back door unlocked or windows open, that old SA habit of going around and checking every door and window is locked and bolted, every security light is on, the alarm is on etc eventually fades, going back to SA without that "security is everything" mindset could be fatal..
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I think it would take a long long time for me to lose this mindset when I step foot on African soil. There are far too many reminders, just in the airport, to re-awaken those instincts.

I have barely any security thoughts in the UK, but I will go around and check the doors are locked at night. But for the most part, I am probably running at 5% of what I used to have to do in SA. But the last time I was there, I walked off the plane, and was instantly reminded of the "African" attitude. Unhelpful border security, downright rude airport staff. The only person that was in any way pleasant from the moment we got off the plane, was the guy that offers to help you with your bags from the carousel to the public arrivals foyer. And he is only pleasant because he thrives on tips.
By the time we got to my in-laws' vehicle, I was firing on all cylinders and probably at well over 100% of what I used to be. It is because it is such a stark contrast to the world that I now call home, that it shocks me into probably being even more security conscious than I once was.

Provided you spent at least some of your adult life in SA, having to be the primary worrier of these sorts of things, I don't think the mindset could ever leave you. Your instincts about what might constitute a dangerous situation, might not be up to scratch though, as the criminal activity in SA changes and evolves over time.
 
Walking along Sea Point yesterday, I noticed some Capetonians still have a sense of security, car doors left unlocked, windows rolled down unattended. I'm Capetonian but this felt odd to me.
 
HavocXphere said:
Maybe. Currently not particular attached to anything - not planning on staying put. Perhaps in 10 years as you say I'll be less mobile

The retiring in SA is more a practical consideration. English speaking, good weather and cheap. Only issue is security...and that is currently a dealbreaker
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If you ahve the financial means yes. Otherwise not. When you stop working and there is no income. Stay out of SA. Unless you're pretty sure you're going to get R12k+ and its going to increase(which is unlikely for odinary citizens). Otherwise youre nest eggs going to disspear fast.
 
HavocXphere said:
The retiring in SA is more a practical consideration. English speaking, good weather and cheap. Only issue is security...and that is currently a dealbreaker
Click to expand...

I used to think similar, though for me it's probably more sensible to consider Spain, Greek islands or Cyprus (as long as Brexit doesn't kill the idea). Reasonably cheap with GBP income, similar good weather, lots of English speakers as well, but also far safer, and with first world medical facilities without the need for expensive medical aid.
 
freddster said:
If you ahve the financial means yes. Otherwise not. When you stop working and there is no income. Stay out of SA. Unless you're pretty sure you're going to get R12k+ and its going to increase(which is unlikely for odinary citizens). Otherwise youre nest eggs going to disspear fast.
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Whats up with the R12k figure?
 
mountainboy said:
Whats up with the R12k figure?
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My parents get around R8k, house paid up, no debt no medical aid, no luxury like DSTV. To add those you're gonna need a bit more money, so I got to R12k. And you can buy less and less at this stage. Ask any retired person how far their money goes, you'll be concerned.
 
freddster said:
My parents get around R8k, house paid up, no debt no medical aid, no luxury like DSTV. To add those you're gonna need a bit more money, so I got to R12k. And you can buy less and less at this stage. Ask any retired person how far their money goes, you'll be concerned.
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How much would medical aid for a 65+ year old couple be? I wouldn't think retiring in SA and relying on state hospitals is that sensible an idea.
 
freddster said:
If you ahve the financial means yes. Otherwise not. When you stop working and there is no income. Stay out of SA. Unless you're pretty sure you're going to get R12k+ and its going to increase(which is unlikely for odinary citizens). Otherwise youre nest eggs going to disspear fast.
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After working in the UK for a few decades, I expect that a professional of even average success would be able to pull in R50k+/m in today's terms passively.
 
freddster said:
If you ahve the financial means yes. Otherwise not. When you stop working and there is no income. Stay out of SA. Unless you're pretty sure you're going to get R12k+ and its going to increase(which is unlikely for odinary citizens). Otherwise youre nest eggs going to disspear fast.
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Except no. I can make enough money in any country that's not the issue. Problem is in SA you can't buy real security even if you throw money at it. Hijackings etc hit the rich too. Electric fences etc just improve the odds but ultimately you're still up against a roll of the dice

Dave123 said:
I used to think similar, though for me it's probably more sensible to consider Spain, Greek islands or Cyprus (as long as Brexit doesn't kill the idea). Reasonably cheap with GBP income, similar good weather, lots of English speakers as well, but also far safer, and with first world medical facilities without the need for expensive medical aid.
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Yeah those are options. Plan A is still to make enough to retire UK side though
 
HavocXphere said:
Except no. I can make enough money in any country that's not the issue. Problem is in SA you can't buy real security even if you throw money at it. Hijackings etc hit the rich too. Electric fences etc just improve the odds but ultimately you're still up against a roll of the dice.
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Having to live in a prison to achieve any sense of security also defeats the purpose, imo. And that's just at home, not your vulnerability when out and about.
 
HavocXphere said:
Except no. I can make enough money in any country that's not the issue. Problem is in SA you can't buy real security even if you throw money at it. Hijackings etc hit the rich too. Electric fences etc just improve the odds but ultimately you're still up against a roll of the dice
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True, even with money (unless talking multi-$millionaire) you've still got to go out, drive on the roads with all the mad taxis, shop in the same malls, go to the same banks, same parks, same beaches etc. If you aren't going to venture outside your 2 meter razor wire and electric fenced fortress what is the point of the "SA lifestyle"? Even then, without a large armed security detail to guard and patrol your property you are still at risk, a stolen truck through your wall is going to put a home invasion gang inside your electric fence without too much effort.


Yeah those are options. Plan A is still to make enough to retire UK side though
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Would be nice to spend at least some of the UK winter in a hot and sunny place.
 
And then I watched a video tonight of a guy getting car jacked at gun point in Paris.

It's not 100% rosy everywhere else, just the vast majority of the time.

With my luck I've had a pretty good life and something like that would happen to me first week I'm in whatever other country.

Devil you know and all that.
 
SauRoNZA said:
And then I watched a video tonight of a guy getting car jacked at gun point in Paris.

It's not 100% rosy everywhere else, just the vast majority of the time.

With my luck I've had a pretty good life and something like that would happen to me first week I'm in whatever other country.

Devil you know and all that.
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1 per 100 000 murder rate vs. 32 per 100 000... Yeah...
 
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