We are still the Lucky Country

[123rover50]

Every now and then I look at Land Rover stuff on the 4x4 Community Forum in South Africa. Then get side tracked into other stuff.
This thread caught my eye. They can carry sidearms over there and just as well.
Kuruman and Crime (http://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php't=232934)

Keith

[rar110]

Every now and then I look at Land Rover stuff on the 4x4 Community Forum in South Africa. Then get side tracked into other stuff. This thread caught my eye. They can carry sidearms over there and just as well. Kuruman and Crime (http://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php't=232934) Keith

I think our level of safety is taken for granted. It should be the norm. I've heard similar stories first hand. However, I get the impression RSA has improved incredibly.

[PhilipA]

Well when the whites live behind 3 metre walls with razor wire, electric wire or sometimes both you have to wonder what sort of society it is.

I stayed in a B&B in Pretoria which had both and would only allow you through the roller door if you called on your cellphone.

We stayed also at Van Wyke's Cheetah conservancy , and the B&B owner apologized for no phone as all the copper wire to the house had been stolen.

You tend to understand more when you see the blacks living in shanty towns outside the major cities and three years ago when I was there, the average wage of a black working in a car plant was about AUD 5000 PA equivalent, and that is really good pay.
By the same token I met some really nice people both black and white .

Speaking to a vendor at a souvenir place near Hartbeespoort, who had a broken foot from a minibus accident it was clear that they live "on the edge" and cannot afford hospital treatment that we in Australia take for granted as he had to keep working and hobble around.
Personally we had no problems , but we are seasoned travelers and take all precautions like wearing old watches and no jewellery, usually taking an old mobile, and being aware of the surroundings.
Regards Philip A

[Tombie]

I have a lot of RSA ex-pat mates...

Lets just say that what happens over there regularly is mind boggling!

[123rover50]

I would really love to go there for a self drive holiday but not knowing how things work would leave us open to exploitation of some kind.
That forum has lots of stories on it of encounters with the animals as well.
One would have to keep ones wits about oneself:o

Keith