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Nice!
09/07/2008 09:17
Good on you Cindy and good luck in NZ. - Brenton |
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Possibilities abound
09/07/2008 09:19
Everyone has an opinion, including me. What causes South Africans to be disliked and ridiculed is our tendency to become abusive whenever we don't agree with another's point of view. I suspect that is also true of the Aussies. Anything is possible and I'd be careful not to label any opinions expressed by others as "ludicrous" or "stupid" unless we plan to be around and be be willing to admit we were wrong in our assertions the day these doomsday predictions become reality. - Tuffy |
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expat alarmism
09/07/2008 09:19
That exactly what it is. I would say it is almost malice on expats part trying to portray our country in a negative light.
Here's some advice to expats.... shut up - fern |
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Amen
09/07/2008 09:20
Well said Chris. If you wish to emigrate, good for you, but don't run your mouth off about something you are far removed from. In other words, if you want to p*ss-off, then p*iss-off, but keep your comments to yourself - we who stay behind have enough to deal with. - stephan |
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Bravo - nicely put
09/07/2008 09:20
she says - with two feet planted firmly in South Africa. Those who don't like should please bugger off - all the more boerewors for the rest of us! - K |
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So called "South Africans"
09/07/2008 09:23
Three things......"Cindy" deserves a big up for her views, "Pieter" really is an asshole, and thirdly I hold the belief that. as you stated, everyone who has the means and/or the inclination to emigrate, please go. BUT, and it is a big but, in my view, in leaving, you forfeit the privilege to continue calling yourself a South African, and you definitely don't have the right to bitch about the country you left. You're entitled to your opinion, keep it to yourself! - jonathan |
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My faith restored
09/07/2008 09:23
..just when I as a black Safrican was starting to get very despondent about our inabiklity to come together as one nation, ppl like you ans Peter Neill restored my faith. Nice one, Chris! - VG |
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I sure hope the expats are wrong
09/07/2008 09:25
As one with little chance of making a new life outside RSA I hold thumbs none of these possible bad outcomes materialise. To follow on to what some person or another had to say (not verbatim and with my own adjustments)- if you can't teach someone not to urinate in the street in full public view, how can you possibly hope to teach that person anything else? We have a long, long way to go. With Africa's lingering resentment to all things western I doubt any successes anytime soon. Realism... - Tuffy |
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Well done.
09/07/2008 09:26
The country does have problems, however I know better as to what's going on here than some idiot in New Zealand. Leave us to deal with our problems and we are not that stupid, naive or playing dumb. It's correct for Peter to piss-off and leave us alone. - Libembe |
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South Africa
09/07/2008 09:26
We all dislike those whining ex pats who continue to condem the country of their birth in order to justify the decision to leave.Having said this,SA appears to be following in the footseps of all other African countries.My wife and I are too old to leave so we are here for the distance but,the youngsters have very little to look forward to in SA.Sad but it's the reality of the situation. - Robin |
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Hypocrates!!!
09/07/2008 09:28
Excellent article Chris, Today should be termed the African patriots day, the amount of racist drivel spewed by the western expats on the internet clearly indicate the anger and emotional remorse about their decisions to move out of this country, people decided to leave yet they continue reading everything about us and wish that other patriotic south Africans should vindicate their decisions of relocation, the expats are feeling guilty. - Kolobe |
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Safricans abroad
09/07/2008 09:29
I'm a South-African who has been on a overseas work assignment for a while now. What really gets to me is meeting other SAfricans(not only expats) abraod and they then tell everyone who cares to listen how crap SA is. I dont mind opinions but if you have nothing good to say, rather keep it to yourself. - Proudly South-African |
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yeah
09/07/2008 09:32
Very nice. Glad to see the bad spellers are the first to abandon SA..... - uber |
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funny
09/07/2008 09:36
are we seeing a change in attitude from our white brothers? are they finally realising that there is no Us and Them in this country and that challenges in a country belong to all those who live in it. i certainly hope so because most of them have expertise to help change the country for the better! - youngster |
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Thanks Chris
09/07/2008 09:36
I agrre,I think the reason is all the alarmist expats actually need to keep justifying to themselves their reasons for leaving and that's why they run down the country at EVERY opportunity - Having said that they aren't all like that, thanks goodness, I have many friends who count the days down till they can come back for a holiday and they thoroughly enjoy themselves while they are here! - stc |
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Not completely true
09/07/2008 09:36
Your article starts with a paragraph stating that the people left in SA, fight the good fight. This is absolutely not true for the majority of SAFA's. I do not know of a single South African that does anything else than hiding in its own hole and avoiding any contact with other people out there. This is a safety mechanism to avoid possible contact with a crime element in my opinion. Also, i think the people moving overseas look for a justification(are plenty)for moving by blaming i.e. crime in SA - Hero |
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Entitled to their opinion
09/07/2008 09:37
As far as I remember, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and is entitled to express it so long as it isn't inciting violence and the like. I'd also have told that guy what I think of his opinion, but I wouldn't begrudge him having one. And a note to everyone writing about this topic, if one is moving to another country one is emigrating and if someone moves to this country they are immigrating. - CTheB |
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It's the truth that hurts.
09/07/2008 09:38
The reason why so many South Africans hate expats trashing our country is simply because they know it is the truth. If expats say that crime is destroying S.A. it is the truth, no matter how much the govt. and tourism agencies try to sugarcoat it. It is the truth that hurts most in life. - Paul |
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"Peter"
09/07/2008 09:39
Nice, Peter should gfhs - Schalk |
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It all depends on your reason for going
09/07/2008 09:43
I'm currently living in China.. but I won't be doing it for ever because the reason I came was to travel and experience another culture. I hate expats complaining about SA just as much as the next person and I agree that the people that fled should not have an opinion on what happens. But like myself there are many South Africans living abroad that see themselves as ambassadors of our country. We are proud to be South Africans and we are constantly promoting out great country! - Rudi |
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ex-pats
09/07/2008 09:46
While I wholeheartedly endorse Cindy's sentiments, I couldn't quite make out if she too is in the process of leaving. And Chris, I love you, but please do not confuse immigrating with emigrating. Im- is in, em- is out. (But you knew that, didn't you.) - taurus |
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Food for thought (some more!)
09/07/2008 09:47
Reading support from commentators for the point of view taken by Chris and Cindy it makes me wonder if any of us on any of these forums have ANY right or privilige to utter a word on the situation in Zimbabwe or George Bush's Middle East antics etcetera. Maybe if all South Africans around the world press hard for change NOW we'll get a result sooner, in the same manner most commentators say pressure should be applied to Zim so short-term pain can be felt in the hope it would bring around change. - Tuffy |
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share your dislike of the Peter crowd
09/07/2008 09:47
Even though I am very concerned about the future of South Africa,and from time to time consider leaving,I share your thoughts on Peter and friends.After a recent crime incident,a "friend" who now lives in the UK said("I'll guess we'll see u soon here").If they want to help,don't remind us of the stupidity of our decision to stay.We know(even better than the foreign media) what's going on here.It is not allways a decision.Better help would b 2 pressure politicians abroad to speak out. - kwk |
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Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater
09/07/2008 09:47
Hi Chris. Please, Please, Please, post Peter's email address somewhere. I'd like to email the ASS too. - Johann |
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Thanks Chris
09/07/2008 09:48
I agrre,I think the reason is all the alarmist expats actually need to keep justifying to themselves their reasons for leaving and that's why they run down the country at EVERY opportunity - Having said that they aren't all like that, thanks goodness, I have many friends who count the days down till they can come back for a holiday and they thoroughly enjoy themselves while they are here! - stc |
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Nice one Chris...
09/07/2008 09:49
Again, good read, and ever so true. Having lived in the UK, and now spending considerable time in the States, one cannot avoid the expat who attempts to justify why they left South Africa.
I have nothing against folk looking to further their careers, but to resort to the all too common racist diatribe is just pathetic. - Ryan Matthews |
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for all of you taking pot shots at expats
09/07/2008 09:50
remeber they are just as south african as you are and they have every right to complain about their country after all their country let them down, they didnt let their coutry down. Stop taking pot shots at your fellow brothers and sisters and rather embrace them and understand where they are coming from. Kolobe stop with your western junk they are just as foreing or as south african as you are to this country so yous top with your stupid drivel already. - terence |
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Well said
09/07/2008 09:52
Nice one Chris and Cindy. It's only when the "white wine" brigade get their fingers out and do something to make a positive contribution (which, for me, would include emigrating and leaving us alone) that we'll see things pick up here. I emigrated here from Europe and I'm disgusted at the ease with which Saffas run down their country and seem to derive pleasure from doing so. And then they're too stupid to see that that same persistent maligning of SA also contributes to our problems. - Pamela |
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Good on you Cindy..
09/07/2008 09:59
I agree with Cindy calling the man an (_*_) - good going, and I'll definitely try that next time I want off some spammer-chop's mailing list.
No difference between Peter's antics and the "be a real man with 7 extra inches from this pill" scammers... as if SA men need that anyway. - J Cilliers |
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Nice one Chris...
09/07/2008 09:59
Again, good read, and ever so true. Having lived in the UK, and now spending considerable time in the States, one cannot avoid the expat who attempts to justify why they left South Africa.
I have nothing against folk looking to further their careers, but to resort to the all too common racist diatribe is just pathetic. - Ryan Matthews |
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SA is better than Aus or NZ
09/07/2008 10:01
Atleast we have a chance at creating a true world country. SA has the most beautiful women, beaches and to be quite honest, as a white person, i love black brothers, especially the isiXhosa, because they smile when i smile at them. Thats team work folks! I lived abroad, whites are lame over there. - Zack |
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Opinion
09/07/2008 10:01
I live here, and agree with the expats, everyone is entitled to their opinion. If you don't like that, don't bother everyone else by writing a column about it, please.
And for all those who say "leave if you don't like it", I will be one day, so stop repeating yourselves, it is boring. - Bob |
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Expats
09/07/2008 10:02
People who emmigrate from SA during these times, do it for very real reasons. The oppression and discrimination in SA at the moment is at least equivalent to Apartheid. So why was it ok for ANC 'heroes' to go into exile and continue to make noise from afar, buts its not ok for whites today to do it? Emmigrating does not cancel your SA roots, and you are as much entitled to an opinion as some one who stays in SA. People who say, 'we are staying here, to fix things' are delusional. - siegfried |
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I'm definitely going to wait for the Rand to strengthen!
09/07/2008 10:03
The world is clearly wrong about the Rainbow nation! Concerns about Zim, Zuma, Selebi, SABC, the judiciary, education, Manto, aids, TB, Eskom, international relations, ANC Zanufication, corruption and crime, etc. is all just B.S.! It's not a slide, it's simply African solutions for African problems. Racist expats shut up! We have great weather, enjoy braaiing, rugby and the soccer W.C. Life's brill!
Mmmh! The water is getting nice and warm... But I wonder where all the clever frogs have gone? - Patriot Games |
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wake up..
09/07/2008 10:05
Guys, some people stay in SA because they want to or have to. The ones who "have to" resent the people who can leave. They "have" to be optimistic, no matter how upset they are every night at 7pm when they are watching the news. Similarly, some expats need to justify their departure & do so by maligning SA's problems while the other expats who actually did experience fatal attacks in their families don't have to..but you can't stop them from telling their stories.. - Theo |
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New country
09/07/2008 10:14
When I finally figure out how to get past the disadvanatges of coming from this backward waste of a continent and get into a new country (Western, civilised) I will be the first to call my self a patriotic citizen of that country.
If you think that us becoming like zim is so unrealisistic you need to wake up. EVERY black run government is a failure the world over. This is due the backward thinking ingrained in a certain culture. - Stryder |
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Are you embarresed
09/07/2008 10:14
Well, Cindy is such a hero, choosing the most unsafe country in the world for a much safer environment.
Chris, when are you actually going to realize that the government don't actually appreciate the 'positive attitude' people like you, so there is no way you can actually make any difference to getting this country on the right road. - SJ |
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Paul - The truth is very far from it.
09/07/2008 10:14
The fact is that expats make things seem a lot worse than what it is. Did you know that SA has less burglaries than the US,Germany,UK, and wait for it... Australia. Same thing with car theft. In fact we're even lower down the ladder there. In total crime, we're only 10th in the world behind UK, New Zealand and the US to name but a few. It isn't all bad matey - Viparo |
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Go and don't come back
09/07/2008 10:15
Please leave us in peace after all no one forced you come and live in Africa, if you are done with milking this continent. Please go in peace, the grass is not always greener on the other side. Your grandparents forgot that things will change one day. GO IN PEACE - Montele |
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Some of it's true
09/07/2008 10:21
Don't bash all expats. I'm living in London and seeing the world, which is easier to do from here that SA. But crime does worry me, not just from a media point of view, because I've experienced it first hand and horribly. But I'm not trashing SA, because it is a fantastic place so please don't bash all expats. Sadly, my Australian partner doesn't want to move there, so probably won't be moving home. And please, keep the Australian jokes to yourself. - Drew |
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the difficult question...
09/07/2008 10:22
oh you're from South Africa! such a beautiful country, always wanted to visit! but isn't it very dangerous there, saw something on the news the other day? and there you are, stuck between the truth and your patriotism! it's a beautiful coutry and you'll have a great holiday, don't believe the sensational journalism-it's not that bad. but you think of your family that phoned about their neighbour that was attacked in their bedroom last week. so what do you say, go read news24 and decide yourself? - newly expatted |
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Nice one, Chris
09/07/2008 10:32
Well said. However this kind of malicious propaganda is just as common within the country. As you say it's usually poorly thought out and sometimes racist. Perhaps the real problem lies with too many of us (but not Cindy!) taking everything as read and at face value without THINKING a little bit. - Big Bad Bob |
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Agreed
09/07/2008 10:34
I agree with the comments about the truth that hurts. Most expats moved because they experienced crime or other events first hand, and you should think twice before judging their negativity too harshly. Chris, you have not been raped in the back of a police van when being unlawfully arrested for an alleged traffic offense, or gone through something similar. Also, positive attitudes serve only to soothe our own conscious, it will not make a shred of difference to the fools in government. - Yawn |
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Alarming
09/07/2008 10:40
Read News24? Are you CRAZY!! Is that how you determine South Africa? My god people there is so much more to our country then what is reported on News24! I'm astounded by the shallowness of some epople, you lock yourselves in your houses and watch the news and read news24, that is soooo sad. My neighbourhood has kids playing in the streets, neighbours meeting in the roads talking, walking their dogs, etc.... - Richard Hipkin |
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Sure, sure we're NOTHING like Zim
09/07/2008 10:50
"The idea that we could devolve into that kind of dictatorship is ludicrous"
I most sincerely hope that you will not have to eat those words within our lifetimes. When Zimbabwe became independent, those who left and predicted it was all going to go to the dogs were simlarly dismissed as racists, who didn't want to believe in Mugabe, praised for the wonderful transition to democracy of his government. Ouch. - Bignosetw |
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Expat
09/07/2008 10:54
I am an Expat myself and stay clear of all South Africans living in the UK, as they are a pain in the bum, especially the Afrikaaners. British people find them hilarious and are always taking the micky out of them. - ingrid |
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@Viparo
09/07/2008 10:58
You've got your finger right on the pulse of the crime stats - though only you know where you got that from. On the basis that you're actually quoting official stats; do you realise that stats in RSA are what the government wants it to be? One other point in my attempt to instill some reality - numbers alone don't do it; you have to compare apples with apples. Re-state the stats in "per capita" numbers and then have another look.... - Tuffy |
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Sick to death!!
09/07/2008 11:01
I am so sick of the way in which South Africans who choose to remain in SA treat those who choose to look for a better life else where. Your whining about those who are running away is getting a bit old now. Shut your mouths and let those who choose to live in peace overseas do so, while you live in peace (not) in SA. - Sick to death!! |
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expat
09/07/2008 11:02
i will stop having an opinion if they give back 35 years worth of tax money that South Africa haply took of me every month.
Until then i will SLATE South Africa at every opportunity i get. - brian |
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In our defence
09/07/2008 11:04
I've lived in London for the past 4 years, came here to pay off study loan, hence NOT out of choice. I've been saving like crazy to go back to SA. I don't even want to wait for a British Passport. My fianc?s parents got attacked IN their home in JHB last week, they tried to bite her mom's fingers off to get her rings. How do I stay positive, how do I convince my partner it is okay to came back? I need (non-racist)advice, especially from people like Kolobe. - J |
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Shut up once you leave, are you seriously delusional?
09/07/2008 11:05
Let us ignore the point of the crude language for a moment, and consider the implication of the general principle suggested, as applied to the following to scenarios: The Jews who fled Nazi Germany should then also just have kept quiet once they crossed the border. Ex-Zimbabweans fleeing the terror must shut up once in South Africa, and not attack the Mad Bob government. Now look at your principle again and reconsider its validity. - AC |
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ROPER
09/07/2008 11:06
You call yourself a journalist, but wants to read only opinions that you agree with. You have truly been brought up in the apartheid system, wanting to build a wall around the postings on news 24, why dont u write you own paper, Roper, by Roper for other Ropers. You live in the web age now mate, you cannot hide from the facts anymore, even if you dont like it. - critical thinker |
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Expat debate
09/07/2008 11:12
History repeats itself if nothing is learnt from it. This is tedious and boring (just like my job). We all stay or leave for a variety of reasons, we all love SA for a variety of reasons, generalization achieves everything/nothing. Blame the press including this column for all the BS you see around the world. Cindy will fit in well in NZ. I hope the two correspondees become neighbours! Do I detect a little stress and defensiveness? Sahla Sentle - Michael John |
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South Africa
09/07/2008 11:15
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I decided to stay. And I work to make it a safe place. I make a difference.
I see blue skies, lovely rain, miles and miles of grass. I walk between the trees and hear the birds. I eat nice ice cream and smell spring in the air.
I meet people from communities and so many of them agree with me, we are not the last generation in South Africa. We work to give our children a safe and happy place.
And every time I thank God that I can do it. - Carl Muller |
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Summary
09/07/2008 11:15
I guess I have to put this more clearly.
1. I think expats have every right to comment on their ex-country
2. I know South Africa has massive problems.
3. I believe that we must fix those problems, because we're South Africans.
4. All I want is to be allowed to make a difference that will benefit my fellow countrypeople.
5. I think all political parties are deeply suspect.
6. The ANC is NOT South Africa - they are a political party.
7. Taurus, thanks. - Chris Roper |
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Violent Crime
09/07/2008 11:15
"In total crime, we're only 10th in the world behind UK, New Zealand and the US to name but a few. It isn't all bad matey - Viparo"
Now why dont you quote the murder statistics and also consider how often crimes are reported?
170 murders a year in UK and 18000 in SA.. You are officially 105 times more likely to be murdered in SA than in the UK. The real numbers are likely far higher as these numbers only consider cases which made it to court. - Viparo2 |
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Expats
09/07/2008 11:19
He, he he. I think we must be realistic. Aggression in argument is normally the sign of a losing cause. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Many expats have had horrific experiences in SA. Not all expats are white. SA's does have plenty of problems and very few solutions are being implemented. This does not relate to race but to incompetent and corrupt politicians and government oaficials(think Erwin and Kasrils). These clowns play the race card at every oportunity. - japes |
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taurus, immiemigrate question.
09/07/2008 11:19
Taurus, you've offended my subeditor, who sent me this:
Emigrate & Immigrate
Use ?emigrate? when speaking of leaving a country: emigrate from.
Use ?immigrate when speaking of coming to a country: immigrate to. - Chris |
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South Africa
09/07/2008 11:21
What a beautiful country side, and Cape Town what a beautiful city. I am hopefully gonna immi/emigrate to NZ soon. But I know there will be no place like Cape Town. Things are bad but I hope they get better. No-one is doing anything but crime tho, so what can I do to ensure my family safety in this country? Nothing because the constitution protects the criminals - the victims of their crimes cannot defend themselves.
People say stop moaning and do something. So please tell me what to do. - TS |
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SA Emigration & Crime
09/07/2008 11:27
Crime is undoubtedly a reason why large numbers of people are reluctantly leaving South Africa. abusing them is stupid, as is abusing any personal decision someone takes. Disagree by all means, but agree to differ.
Obviously, emigration would be much reduced if government could get a grip on crime, but the situation is such that one hardly knows where the police stop and the criminals begin, especially when robbers carry police issue 9mm guns, use police uniforms, etc, and the metro police behave like idiots, dancing on the highway! ATM's popping off daily! This doesn't even sound real for the Third world.
A determined initiative to clamp down on crime would help tremendously, with real arrests, real penalties and a lifetime of misery for offenders. Try 3 months of ignoring traffic and other minor offences, and use the metro cops, army, everyone, just to hunt down and purge the violent criminals and put them down or away!
People might see less green grass over the next hill if there was less blood on the grass here. - Xme |
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Emigrate and immigrate
09/07/2008 11:27
To check how to use these words, replace with the words leave and go, respectively. You don't leave to and go from, you leave from and go to. Hence you emigrate FROM South Africa and immigrate TO New Zealand... - levelheaded |
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Expats
09/07/2008 11:28
I dont blame anyone for leaving this country of ours.When last have you taken a good hard look at our president and his pathetic ministers, even worse when they open their mouths to speak. i had high hopes for this country a few years ago, but let me tell you our childrens children will still be blamed for apartheid.if i as a white stand and throw stones at cars on the N2 will that get me a better house or let me find a job,no i will end up in jail and be sodomised.Lets see what we find in 2018. - Herman |
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A tale of two Cities
09/07/2008 11:33
In case you people have not noticed. There is such a thing as good and evil. In this world those two things will always be there. What expats are complaining about is true. South Africa is not an ideal country to live in at the moment. The majority of South African voters do not even have internet or access to News 24. Do you think they care about neatly tarred roads, your I-Pod that ?heaven forbids? costs more than last year, private health care, bonds etc etc etc. They do not even know how to calculate the impact on their lives of an interest rate hike. Its only logic that the standard of living of the middle and upper classes will drop. I lived in the UK. The differences between a 1st and a 3rd worl country is PROFOUND. Make no mistake. You are all in denial, instead of searching for solutions. Where the hell have you people been. A 50% filled glass will always either be half full or half empty. In South Africa the glass has been cracked for over 50 years and recently got hi-jacked. - Strider |
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Going Nowhere
09/07/2008 11:33
I am afrikaans,my businesses have been robbed 60 times in the last 8 years.I am going nowhere.Peter Pumpkin Eater won't even get onto my mailing list.I don't have all the answers for our country,but i am going to try to make a difference.Everyday i make sure that i put a smile on the person serving me at a public place. - Dutchman |
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Why Chris, why?
09/07/2008 11:34
This is childish. From both sides.
Feel bad about a nasty mail someone sent you?
Paste it in your column as an article and let everyone stand up for you..?
dude!
- what |
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No one forced you to live in Africa
09/07/2008 11:34
Not Africa as such, no, but our people were forced to leave Europe. We had to go somewhere. Thabo tells us to love refugees, well, that is what our many of our ancestors were. Ever heard of the Edict of Nantes? When it was recalled in i think 1692 all Protestants were basically outlawed in France. Hence the Hugenots who came to SA. Many of us have French ancestry, so in effect we are the children of refugees. I would petition to get my family's land back near Paris but that only works in Africa. - Bridget |
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Cindy the lady
09/07/2008 11:36
I think Cindy has put it bely bely nicely! - Godfrey |
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Just like....
09/07/2008 11:38
...when you agree with your wife when she complains about her useless sister. Suddenly she is pissed off at you. Pathetic how each one of the people giving Cindy the whole 'You Go Guuuuuurlfriend' treatment and supporting her 'potty mouth' comments is secretly very concerned about the situation. But yet most of us just sit back and say 'Yessiss, she only Choooned him hey!' 'She told him his fa**en Fawwchoon hey!' Let's hope (no...pray) people like Peter are wrong and try to help them see our side - Bob |
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Way to go Cindy!!!
09/07/2008 11:40
Call me strange (many do) but personally, the crime & politics aren't things that may lead me to leave SA (well not directly). The things I would LOVE to escape from are Car Guards and Supermarket Packers - they're the blight on my daily life *sigh*.
And having lived abroad for various reasons in the past, I certainly haven't met any people that hate South Africans, so I suspect this is just another thing that Peter is misinformed about. - Lesley |
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Leave him
09/07/2008 11:44
I have lots of friends, ex-colleagues & family now living overseas. No-one ever complains about the situation back home nor critisises the uselessness of the inhabitants or their leaders. They are not interested what is happening back there and will only help if someone they know wants to leave. To them SA does not exist. I'm also leaving soon, will sever all ties, and tear up my passport. If Peter wants to employ such scaremongering to get business, let him. His business won't last longi - Krantz |
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@ Ingrid
09/07/2008 11:44
Ingrid...quiet please!! Your not allowed to be called a South African anymore, like some people suggests in this column. We do not know your reasons for leaving South Africa. Better job? Or your hatred for fellow South Africans as displayed in your comments about the Afrikaans people. No!! I'm glad your not living here anymore. We do not need your type here. South Africans are a tough bunch of people....all of us. All 11 official languages!! Cheers. - XENO |
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Expat-Brian
09/07/2008 11:45
Brian you aren't getting no tax money back.The money helped you to enjoy our "whites only" times.Change your focus on your country that you are living in,as you have nothing left to say about us. - Dutchman |
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What, what?
09/07/2008 11:46
What, I'm not sure about your point. I'm highlighting a sociological problem, and using as an example a mail sent to someone else. It's not just pasted in, it's quoted from and analysed. - Chris Roper |
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Truth???
09/07/2008 11:47
There are always different sides to every story. In this case:
a)Peter's side
b)Cindy's side
c)The truth!
Just as the columnist has a right to an opinion about certain expat's attitudes, soo too does the expat have a right to an opinion on SA. After all,he left the land.
TRUTH u ask? People's nature remains the same, wherever one is in the world.Differences in opinion will always occur, some being able to reconcile differences, others not...
If you've nothing good to say,simply keep quiet!! - MT |
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Flip side of the coin
09/07/2008 11:49
I'm South African born and bred, and I moved to Australia a year ago today. I moved due to crime (gun to my head) and decided to give my children a better future. Best decision I ever made. We also have beautiful weather, scenery and everything SA has, but there's no VIOLENT crime here. Yes, Viparo, there are burglaries, but that is just teenagers looking for their next fix. No guns involved. I loved SA, but love Aus more now. - 1 year in Oz - Viparo check your stats again, mate |
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Who will expect it?
09/07/2008 11:55
Chris, i enjoyed your collumn and also dissagree with people who constantly bad mouth SA to foreigners. I recently had a friend come over to SA for the first time from England who was literally scared senseless to go anywhere without looking over her shoulder.
I do just have one question for you. You say you dont like SA being likend to Zim, and you say the idea of SA falling into anarchy is stupid. Do you think the Zim's thought the same thing when they were emancipated from Britain? - Alasdair |
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Everyone is entitled to an opinion and should be heard.
09/07/2008 12:01
The days of suppression are over. If things are wrong in this country, it should be brought to the attention of the whole world.
Human rights violations should be pointed out and the offenders should be punished.
Nobody is above the law - nobody! Criminals should be punished if found guilty - even Jacob Zuma.
This is not Zimbabwe and we, the people who love this country dearly, will not allow this country to slip into another Zimbabwe! We are willing to sacrifice our lives to prevent that! - Frank II |
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Expat opinions
09/07/2008 12:08
Our reaction to the opinion of expats about South Africa can be compared to the reaction of a fat woman to her ex-husband making a fat joke. It is OK for a fat person to joke about being fat, but it is really not funny if someone else jokes about it. Same with expats talking about South Africa. And once you divorce someone, her life is no longer any of your business. Same with expats. They have divorced the country and no-one is interested in their opinion anymore. Especailly not the fat ex. - LAF |
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Bust!
09/07/2008 12:08
A simple Google search allowed me to find the (amateuristic) website of the company of the offender. Being in the process myself I will not deal with that company and will spread the word to all and sundry. Hello Peter! - Forlorn |
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eventually patriotism wont safe you...
09/07/2008 12:08
Eventually you will all realise that the bad is outweighing the good by quite a margin, it will be pointless to be patriotic when you become a victim of the crime all the expats are ranting about, when an armed robber puts a gun to your head for a cell phone, you will think about relocating, lets not judge those who have the capacity to leave coz, lets face it, we would all leave if we had the opportunity. - Owen |
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For Chris only, and sub-editor...
09/07/2008 12:14
Finally someone notices. A few days ago I sent in a comment PLEADING commentators must learn the difference between immigration and emigration - it didn't get published as far as I could determine but now the job is done. Next job - could someone PLEASE teach all these morons commentating on TV and radio how to pronounce "economic"? It is such an important word and with it being used often South Africans will appear a little less silly to foreigners if we can at least get the pronounciation right - Tuffy |
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Your own choice and experience
09/07/2008 12:16
I'm a Saffa living in Ireland the last 8 years and have maintained as much contact with and interest in SA as I can. I'm involved in programmes to promote trade, culture and tourism with SA as far as I can, cos I still love the place despite the distance. Those who are negative should not try to bring the rest of us down! We're the optimists who believe SA is the best! - Saffa in Ireland |
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Eventually
09/07/2008 12:21
Eventually you will all realise that the bad is outweighing the good by quite a margin, it will be pointless to be patriotic when you become a victim of the crime all the expats are ranting about, when an armed robber puts a gun to your head for a cell phone, you will think about relocating, lets not judge those who have the capacity to leave coz, lets face it, we would all leave if we had the opportunity. - Owen |
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Peter & Cindy
09/07/2008 12:22
Freedom of speech is what we have and this guy used it. If that's how he feels , so be it. I do not blame people for thinking the way they do. People's thinking are just a product of experiences and looking at the world around them. maybe he is to negative and maybe a comparison with Zim is not correct, but he has a point as well. Zim has an influence on us and it is not good. ThaboM has definitely not done Zim or SA any favours, neither has the ANC, or for that matter any Freedom fighter Gov - Boerseun |
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I'm with Pieter
09/07/2008 12:22
The time is coming where more and more people, educated people (check out brain drain), are leaving SA. This is a problem! Yes, they have a right to piss and moan. Do you think every one of these people "wants to leave" ? Many have their hand forced. Better a family of 4 leave today than a family of 3, mother and daughter raped and son dead and father unemployed. It is their duty to make these comments. Someone needs to put pressure on the SA government to do something. - Robert |
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Are you one or are you not!
09/07/2008 12:23
Good on you Cindy and yes Chris, there is a particular kind of South African that our country can well do without.
Just to make people like Peter sit up and take note, I have been living and working outside of our borders for ten years now and am still as proud of being South African as I ever was living there.
We still have a family home there, have two kids studying there and "go back home" as often as we possibly can.
Some people will always be Africans, some not. Bye you lot! - James Laing |
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Well said...
09/07/2008 12:24
A big yay for all the heroes who are sticking it out here - SA is my place of birth, and I'll die here! For all the other people who leave (not to see the world/travel/stuff like that - I'm talking about fleeing. More jobs/opportunities/boerewors/mrs balls for us! - Griet |
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Proud... of what?
09/07/2008 12:39
I often see people say "..proud of being South African..". Can someone tell me WHAT they are proud of? I travel quite a bit, and I have lost all that I ever was proud of when abroad. Yes, we have table mountain and the likes, but you go see it at the risk of being mugged or killed! be honest! - TC |
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