Riekie Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 A South African woman in Australia says that after they fled from South Africa, their Australian dreams were shattered by the "multiple crimes" they've suffered and that they don't feel safe in Australia.... I'll let you judge for yourself... http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/australian-dream-shattered-family-flees-crime-in-south-africa-but-falls-victim-in-sydney/story-fngr8hax-1227192333190 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadEnoughofJuju Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 I think the key difference here is that the Police are actively searching for cctv footage and will eventually find the perps and slap them on the wrist. Unlike in africa where you would more than likely be told by the police (like my MIL was) you're not dead or injured so there's no point in reporting it because no one will do anything about it anyway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel-B Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 Well. There is crime everywhere. I just think you have a higher odds of being raped or hijacked in Africa. Your bike might be stolen in Italy, or Oz or USA. But you will live to moan about it. And wow really her dream is in shreds because of some hooligans and a backpack? Ya its not ideal. BUT REALLY? If that makes the news I want in on that I am upset about our news today in Pretoria, there is so much terrible crime its just staggering. And then some people are investing even more in property and the country and I start thinking IS IT ME? Am I WRONG? What am I missing? How can they be SO happy and content and not bothered, and I just want out? It makes me feel crazy some days. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmNew Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 (edited) I read that story in disbelief too. Somehow it garnered more attention on News24 than the shootout / hijacking in Pretoria involving men in police uniforms!It almost made me think it was a form of propaganda to make Saffers think that RSA is a relatively safe country compared to Australia.Of course crime is everywhere. Every country you visit , you are greeted with warnings about theft on public transport. Many trams and trains have signs on them in Europe warning you of "larceny". If this family went over thinking that crime doesn't exist at all in Australia........I have no words actually ( well none that I can type anyway )I had 2 main thoughts when reading that article :1) The bag was stolen, but they are alive to tell the tale, which many South Africans are not after similar incidents and 2) that using public transport full stop is probably a novelty to this family, and that they haven't sussed out good routes / bus times etc to avoid the pickpocket element that will be there.Since making the decision to pursue this dream of ours in July 2014, we have read the Oz news sites daily. Yes, there are murders. Most of them have been committed by family members/spouses ( thinking of that awful Cairns one, and the scissors murder in Sydney, the boy killed by his dad in Melbourne while playing cricket ). I have yet to read story ( perhaps I have missed them ) in which robbery victims were brutally murdered, and all that was missing was a cell phone, small babies being raped and killed etc etc. Everything I read still affirms our decision . One thing I have also appreciated is the non-sensationalist manner in which the more disturbing stories are portrayed in the Oz media. In the local media, you are met with every gory detail of what happened , how and where. Edited January 22, 2015 by EmNew 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottg Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 Show me one country in the world that hasn't got prisons - thus meaning no crime!My Mom's purse got stolen during her visit on the Gold Coast some years ago. However not snatched or mugged but sneaked out of her bag doing while window shopping (actually we still not sure exactly at what point). Must admit it was a bit of a surprise to all of us (and it didnt make news24 sensational reporting) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsta Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 (edited) I think the key difference here is that the Police are actively searching for cctv footage and will eventually find the perps and slap them on the wrist. Unlike in africa where you would more than likely be told by the police (like my MIL was) you're not dead or injured so there's no point in reporting it because no one will do anything about it anyway.That's not how it goes. The RSA police would tell you they know exactly who the perps are; but they are worried that the perps know that the police know who they are. They would then tell you about a colleague whose family was attacked the other day by these criminals. To close the conversation the police officer would point out that it doesnt matter if he does nothing as there is no space in the jail anyway.Seriously, employees of the SAP change out of their uniforms to travel home. They are worried about criminals following them home.Look, South Africa has always been a me Apartheid was a set of very unfair solutions to the problems that already existed. For example, when you have less than 10% of the population paying any meaningful takes, you can't provide first world police services to 100% of the population.But having said that, I do feel that the ANC comrades generally misunderstood this when they came to power. They also genuinely misunderstood how much a black African government would scare off foreign investors. But they do know now that they are not the solution to South Africa's mess. Why do you think they deny it so regularly? Edited January 22, 2015 by monsta 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rozellem Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 Dear &%$#*@! Well, she got her 15mins of fame now. Even before I read its in Frenchs Forest, I recognised the bus stop. Where literally hundreds of school kids and very old people get on and off buses the whole day. In RSA this demographic would be either house bound or wrapped in cotton wool somewhere out of public view. Hope I dont bump into her, because I might head butt her, but I suspect she is more in need of a hug. Moving continents isn't for the faint hearted, but even she would have to admit keeping your kids "not exposed to crime" is an unrealistic fantasy. Unless you are relocating to the moon. Six years in Sydney, and I dont know anyone who have had anything deliberately taken on a bus. I do however have a host of stories about people leaving valuables on a buses and getting it back. Would be interesting to hear from the husband how kids made off with his backpack. Meanwhile, down the road, we will again go to sleep with our door and windows wide open......Oh ja, funny that this story should pop up this morning. I was just thinking how the highjack and violent robbery video clips, posted on facebook by friends, have hit a all time high. The type of stuff that will make any person, especially South African, stomach turn. Puts things in perspective. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig01 Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 Oh cry me a river poor thing. 'shattered'? ..... geez it certainly did not take much did it. Of all the shyte that South Africa is going through, they find this to be newsworthy over there? ... give me strength 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DXB2OZ Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 The entire "world" section on news24.com yesterday was a series of articles on what's wrong with Oz.If a stolen backpack and some rude kids shatter this family's dreams, I would suggest that their dreams are extremely naive and rather stupid. They don't need to "warn" people, they need to wake up and catch a reality check!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferMan Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Whatever. Crime is everywhere. Im still glad Im in Aus. Im glad that my car got keyed and I didnt get a barrel of a 9mm to my head. I am sorry these people suffered crime, but Im glad they walked away. Still a stunning country. Show me one place in SA that uses an "honesty box".....The farmers where I shop still use them, with NO cameras. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardH Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 If it is that bad in Sydney for this couple, then let's see if they go back.... I'm willing to bet they don't...Surferman, my kids (and us) were blown away by the 'honesty boxes'. They kept asking "...but someone will steal the money..." and my reply is always "...this is Australia, it generally won't..."It is so refreshing that they see things like honesty boxes etc, because this is how it SHOULD be, not kids being instructed on what to do if the car gets hi-jacked. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rozellem Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 My kids (toddlers) and I are travelling on that bus right this minute. Looking round, we are the scariest characters on the bus by a mile! 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DXB2OZ Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Tears of laughter pouring down my face, best retort of the year!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donovan83 Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Well let's share our crime experiences in australia so far to put this in context:Perth - I once had a guy on meth lunge at me on a bike path along the South Perth foreshore. I cycled around and got away - thankfully there were lots of people around, so if he did manage to get hold of me I doubt he'd have managed to do much harm.Melbourne - was harassed by some youths at Yarraville train station once. Oh, and significant vandalism - graffiti, people's bicycles being damaged when left on a city street (especially over night).In the 2 years before emigrating, armed robberies and robberies in my family, hijackings amongst my group of friends happened with regular frequency.I was never directly a victim of proper crime in SA, except for having my wallet stolen at uni. So I guess I was lucky?I think the lady in this article has a point. Antisocial behavour isn't acceptable and should be reported BUT I think framing it in 'oh no we jumped from the frying pan into the fire' is probably a bit of an overdramatisation. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansaPlease Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 I've seen a number of South Africans back in SA posting this article on the walls of friends who are in Oz on Facebook, going: "see! Aus isn't so perfect..." and that sort of stuff. Closed minded fools. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanniewagnie Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Does any one know what was the motive for the shooting and murders of the South Africans in Adelaide by their neighbour?I'm really shocked and disappointed and my heart goes out to the surviving wife and kids.What is the chance: 2 South Africans from Pretoria who go and visit their daughter in Adelaide to be murdered in their bed? I feel sick, especially after the past few day's murders here in SA, it feels to me the whole world went crazy and I need to emigrate to a place yet to be discovered to get away from this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rozellem Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Does any one know what was the motive for the shooting and murders of the South Africans in Adelaide by their neighbour?I'm really shocked and disappointed and my heart goes out to the surviving wife and kids.What is the chance: 2 South Africans from Pretoria who go and visit their daughter in Adelaide to be murdered in their bed? I feel sick, especially after the past few day's murders here in SA, it feels to me the whole world went crazy and I need to emigrate to a place yet to be discovered to get away from this.The Adelaide incident was on the 1st of May 2011, so not that recent. Dont know what happened to the shooter, will have to Google, but my money is on "very much crazy". Kanniewagnie, the shooter, a paranoid schizophrenic, shot his mums neighbours on orders from "the devil". http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/life-in-detention-for-hectorville-murderer-donato-anthony-corbo/story-e6frea83-1226358760034 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RYLC Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 I think the murderer was mentally ill (an adult who lived at home with his parents and had issues). It was in 2011 so a long time ago now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanniewagnie Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 I was e-mailed this news article by someone YESTERDAY. I did not notice the date:blush:...Funny how, when people know you are immigrating, they start to send you "bad news articles" about your new country.Sorry about being "slightly" off topic. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riekie Posted January 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 I was e-mailed this news article by someone YESTERDAY. I did not notice the date:blush:...Funny how, when people know you are immigrating, they start to send you "bad news articles" about your new country.Sorry about being "slightly" off topic.All you do is send them one about South Africa right back (don't respond, don't defend, just send them a link...) Eventually they'll run out of "bad"emails to send about Australia and you could still keep going for 10 years... They'll get the message. (Who needs friends like that anyway?!) 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel-B Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 My kids (toddlers) and I are travelling on that bus right this minute. Looking round, we are the scariest characters on the bus by a mile!Hahahahaha!!! LOVE IT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikej Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 (edited) If that incident has ruined their lives they really need to get a grip.And another thing she is going to give the rest of us "EX" South Africans a bad reputation. Australians dislike people who think they are special or precious and I agree with them. Edited January 23, 2015 by Mikej 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OubaasDik Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 (edited) The entire "world" section on news24.com yesterday was a series of articles on what's wrong with Oz.If a stolen backpack and some rude kids shatter this family's dreams, I would suggest that their dreams are extremely naive and rather stupid. They don't need to "warn" people, they need to wake up and catch a reality check!!You and Craig and Rozelle are SO insensitive. I could just SPIT.OK - end of irony.WTF? You come from SA and someone steals shite without you even knowing and it's "Aaaaaghh I'm dying - help, send for a priest, or maybe a rabbi, in case I decide to convert ..."I'm laughing, here. Edited January 23, 2015 by OubaasDik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFreshStart Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 We spent an hour and half in the water in Watsons Bay yesterday, leaving all our belonging on the beach. Nobody dared touch it and we came back to find everything in order, in fact we decide to move location leaving our stuff out of sight for most of the time, not the first time, and nothing... can't say the same of Fishhoek & Camps Bay.Neighbours left two bottle of champagne on our doors step, hours later they were still there, the post man regularly leaves parcels on our doorstep etc... how would this fly in SA?We live in an area with 2 drug clinics, so we see the odd meth addict and we had our broom taken one night and friend had his bike taken, only to have it returned with an apology note a week later once the thief had sobered up from his high.But the fact is anywhere in the world one deals with crime, in fact the only crime committed on me was in London, when I was accosted by a bunch of youthes who took my money, but my dreams of British life were hardly shattered, the weather did a good job of that, no crime needed 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferMan Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Did your Mother In law steal the broom for her company car? PMSL 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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