Work in South Africa

[Manish Hatwalne]

How's work culture in South Africa?? There seems to be an opportunity from one of the Indian companies to stay there for a year or so. I have heard some weird stories about level of safety & high crime rate there though. Any inputs from fellow ranchers???

[Arjun Shastry]

From wikipedia:
Violent crimes such as murder and robberies have decreased in recent years, with the year 2004 seeing a drop of 4.6% and 5.3% respectively for these two offenses. The rape and hijacking rates, however, showed no signs of such a slowdown. Hijackings and cash in transit heists particularly have been shown to be on the increase. The situation with rape has become so bad that the country has been referred to as the 'rape capital of the world'.[5]
south Africa
I too heard similar stories.If job is in Durban/Johannedburg etc I don't think it should be much concern.

[Rambo Prasad]

You can get more info here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/1924251.stm

[Manish Hatwalne]

Thanks for you inputs. It doesn't seem to make much sense to go to SA.

- Manish

[Arvind Mahendra]

Its strange on 60 minutes I saw a story where the leaders of S.A. were insisting that these figures were not accurate. The people being interviewed were also echoing similar views(some of them minorities(as in whites) of S.A.). The truth probably lies somewhere in between. "developed" countries can be made to look just as bad if you see the crime figures.

[Mike Isano]

South Africa, ironically is one of the safer African countries. But that's not saying much.

I know a south african (white) and he had walls around his house to keep people out.

People usually carry weapons for self-defense. A lot of people arm themselves the old fasioned way with cross bows or short swords.

[Jay Dilla]

The crime in the major cities of South Africa is no worse then the crime in the major cities of America or India. Now the small villages and suburbs are another story. The main problem in South Africa is the availibility of guns and the gangs in the suburbs of the major cities.

[Jay Dilla]

Originally posted by Rambo Prasad:
You can get more info here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/1924251.stm

Most of the people quoted in that article seem to be from European countries. There is obviously angst between the native South Africans and the Europeans there, in my opinion an european person there would probably be more of a target due to their percieved wealth and the existing bad blood between the blacks and whites. There fore the perception might be skewed.

[Arvind Mahendra]

Originally posted by Jay Dilla:
The crime in the major cities of South Africa is no worse then the crime in the major cities of America or India. Now the small villages and suburbs are another story. The main problem in South Africa is the availibility of guns and the gangs in the suburbs of the major cities.

Crime in India like crime in S.A. or America? No way!!!. There are sporadic incidents like Armed Robberies or breaking ins that you hear of. Most of the crime is petty crime like chain snatching or pick pocketing. But violent crime is something that isn't really a feature of urban Indian society. I have never felt unsafe walking around in New Delhi. Maybe because if you yell for help, bystanders actually come over to help you in any way possible. In America I have heard of people being held at gunpoint in posh neighborhoods in the daytime with noone around giving a damb. Of course Im a guy, I dont know How safe women feel out here. There has been over the last 2 decades a massive influx of people from poorer states in the capital and most of the crime is committed by them.
[ September 24, 2007: Message edited by: Chunnard Singh ]

[Sandip Sankeshwar]

You find India safe because weapons are not easily accessible.Otherwise its a hell.

[Pradeep bhatt]

Originally posted by Sandip Sankeshwar:
You find India safe because weapons are not easily accessible.Otherwise its a hell.

Traditional weapons are used a lot

[Rambo Prasad]

Crimes in India are relatively petty crimes when compared to the crimes happening in SA..Most of them are chain snatching are pick pocketing type of crimes...In SA armed robberies and murders take place in broad daylight and in traffic signals..Houses have electrified fences with armed private security guards guarding it....

In India nowhere will you find things like this happen...Some times knife brandishing thefts happens at night in deseted areas but it can never be compared to the scale of crimes happening in SA

[mantai sethobja]

Hi,

I am living in South Africa. There is crime in every country. What these people target is someone who looks like is neew in town and is lost. So if you are not clever enough, you'll get jerked. I,ve been living in Johannesburg for the rest of my life and i've never been jerked once. And apparently Johannesburg is the city with high crime rate. Have you never been jerked in India or America?

[Sandip Sankeshwar]

Any remote possibility that you might be jerking somebody?
SA was former britsh colony like India.should not be that bad.I would like to go to Durban and enjoy that open bus.

[mantai sethobja]

Not at all

[Arvind Mahendra]

I don't even understand why you'd want to get jerked at the hands of another. If you go out with alot of money and look like you're looking for it, chances are someone will jerk you. I haven't gotten jerked yet cause I never carry that much money. Of coure I also have different habits than most. I would rather stay home on a friday night and surf the Internet. what could be safer?

[Sandip Sankeshwar]

I agree.I would rather go with growing beard and some tight Shirt or T-shirt and lousy jeans.Banaglore is not safe at all. :roll:

[Pradeep bhatt]

Originally posted by Sandip Sankeshwar:
I agree.I would rather go with growing beard and some tight Shirt or T-shirt and lousy jeans.Banaglore is not safe at all. :roll:

You forgot Mumbai .