Cape Town Favourites!

December 5, 2015

Cape Town has quickly become one of my favourite places in the world. We have explored the city on our own, with visiting friends and family, and now with our 3 small children and dog!

Despite the changes in our family size, we still have the same criteria on how we like to enjoy our time in the Cape, finishing the day with a G&T sundowner, eating incredible food (either on the beach or at one of the many restaurants), admiring beautiful views each and every time we jump into the car, swimming in the various sea’s, shopping up a storm, and of course a visit to the aquarium! I couldn’t begin to put everything into one post, so for now here is how we will be spending our 3 weeks over Christmas in Noordhoek: 

Covering:

1. Noordhoek and daily life

2. Where to source local food (Meat, Fish, Cheese etc) 

3.  Day Trips

4. Winelands

5. Cape Town - Shops, Coffee Shops, Biscuit Mill  

6. Christmas Events:

If You Know Of Any Events / Shops Or Places That Aren’t On Our List - Let Us Know In The Comments Section At The Bottom Of This Page.

Why Noordhoek? It’s much quieter than Cape Town particularly at this time of year, and wonderful place for families, close to a number of beaches a few wonderful family friendly restaurants, farm shops and deli’s. Previously we have booked houses through Cape Holiday Lets (now known as Cape Villa Collection), who specialise in Family Friendly homes, this year however we went for a place through Airbnb which was much cheaper.

 Daily Life In Noordhoek:

The majority of our time will be spent on the beach, and at the Farm Village in Noordhoek. Whilst the sea at Noordhoek is flippen freezing there is a little rock pool for the kids to play in, the sand is soft but fun to play a bit of cricket or ball, plus there is horse riding. Then to play in sea and build sand castles we usually head over to Fish Hoek (which isn’t as pretty but much more functional for the kids), with parking right next to the beach, a little cafe for ice cream and a jungle gym.

There is Cape Point Vinyard  which has a brilliant Market on a Thursday, stunning views, wonderful picnics, plus a jungle gym! Certainly be here for the odd sundowner, and long lunch.

Noordhoek Farm Village - most mornings we will pay the deli a visit on the way back from my run (or hung over stroll down the road) to pick up croissants and fresh bread from the deli. In addition to the deli, there is a chilled out cafe (Cafe Roux), which serves great brunches (my favourite is the eggs Benedict with courgette rosti, its incredible!) We have spent many a meal here, meeting friends, listening to live music, generally eating great food, drinking lovely wine and enjoying life with friends. The more up market restaurant - The Food Barn, is one for sunday lunch, evening meal or special occasion. Then there is sushi and tapas - both also deliver!

Park Runs

The past few months I have really enjoyed taking part in the Delta Park Run, so I am excited to check out different Parkruns in Cape Town. Parkrun is global movement, voluntary operated 5km timed runs, that start at 8am each Saturday morning, I have found it to be a wonderful community event, with range of ages and fitness levels taking part.

The main park runs in Cape Town are Green Point and Rondesbosch Common, with runs taking place in Stellenbosch (Route 44), Fish Hoek and Big Bay. Constantia

In addition to the play area and restaurants there is also accommodation and few shops, and it is all sat at the base of Chapmans Peak Drive. Quite simply this place is the reason we return to Noordhoek, its not often you get incredible food, wine, variety and wonderful activity for the kids.

We have friends staying next door at Kommeji and Scarborough, so our meeting place will probably be - Imhoff Farm - which has a number of activities for the kids to do (camel rides, petting zoo & newly opened 3D wooden maze), a beautiful view from the Blue Water Cafe, and great farm shop with wonderful cheeses, and old fashioned chutneys (love their Apple and Date chutney), good to note the Blue Water Cafe also does take away!

Where We Will Be Shopping For Food:

Lovely thing about Cape Town is the small local shops, whether it be at one of the vineyards or farm shop, selecting fresh cape produce. Here is where we will be sourcing our Christmas goods from:

Meat:

The Butcher Man - Wonderful biltong bar and sit down bar so you can eat in or take away, some of the finest cuts of meat in the Cape

and

Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants - who source their beef from small independent farmers, the majority coming from Eastern Cape. Its all clean, ethnical and sustainable.

Fish - straight out of the sea from the guys at Kalk Bay Harbour, also Hout Bay is meant to be good! 

Fruit Veg/ eggs / herbs - Farm shop or Deli at Imhoff and Farm Village

Cheese: Culture Club Cheese - 215 Bree Street 

Bread - Jasons Bakery -185 Bree St 

Wine - Either locally from the vineyards, or through Get Wine or Cyber Cellar 

I hope to head to Bree Street as there is a great little strip consisting of:

 Bacon on Bree,

Culture Club,

Mothers Ruin Gin Bar, 

and Little Saint - great new restaurant serving real food. 

The staples we will do an internet shop at Woolies so we don't have venture that close to shopping mall during our holiday.

Many of our friends are also staying in the area, thus babysitting and visiting restaurants may not be as easy, so we have decided to hire in a private chef for a meal or two, to bring the yummy food to us. We adore cooking, but it will be nice to sit back and relax for the odd night. Neil Anthony has been highly recommended to us - but we are on the look out for another chef if you know of anyone?

We were keen not to over book ourselves as we are staying in such a lovely area with friends all around us so most the time we will be on the beach and chilling by the pool, but there are a few favourite things we like to get up too where we may venture a little further:

Day Trips:

Kalk Bay

Love this quirky little place, there is always a new cafe, coffee and smaller art gallery explore. We tend to get our fresh fish here to take home and braai, straight from the guys at the habour who are skinning and gutting them for local restaurants and suppliers.

Harbour House is also a firm favourite of ours, probably not with younger kids (we will be having fish and chips on the beach), but for older kids or no kids its certainly worth a visit!

We may even take the train to Simons Town - see the penguins have lunch at the Meeting Place Upstairs,  or The Salty Dog for fish n chips.

Hout Bay

On route to Hout Bay we may stop off at Jonkerhuis at Groot constantia - we have had lovely brunch and incredible curry for lunch here, its very relaxed with lawn for kids to run around.

Bay Harbour Market every Friday, Saturday Sunday,  

Chapmans Peak Hotel - great for Calamari and Chips / Sundowners

Kitima Thai Restaurant - we have heard nothing but great things and are excited to give it a try this year. 

Winelands 

You can’t really visit the cape without at least one lunch in the vineyards. Here are some of our favourites. 

A full list including grape tasting for kids, jungle gyms, types of food head over to a great article on the Stellenbosch Mom

Babylonstoren - the most talked about wine estate, tables very hard to come by, organic farm shop (which does sell online), spa, hotel, gardens, restaurant.

La Petite Ferme- stunning views and gourmet food.  (kids menu and big lawn)

Dieu Donne - Franschhoek. The terrace below the restaurant overlooks a lawn with a sandpit and a glorious view of the valley, simple food with a kids’ menu, and beer brewed on the spot in a micro-brewery.

Picnics:

Buiten ver wachting - its always been fully booked so yet to try - but heard great things! 

Warwick, Brilliant for kids, who can play in the fountains, and run around the big lawn. Then there is a Safari truck wine tour with beautiful views and grape picking for kids. 

La Mottee - Has a number of walks / hiking trails through the fynbos along a scenic mountain route. This wine farm works hard on biodiversity and if the kids are interested in indigenous flowers, you can do a tour through the greenhouses. They have a wonderful family Sunday lunch, but its very popular so need to book. 

Cape Town

A trip to Cape Town wouldn’t be complete for our kids (or Matt) without a trip to the aquarium. I am hoping to escape to a Gin Distillery Gin Bars are popping up all over the place.  I’m beyond excited to swot up on it! Or escape to the shops whilst the kids are enjoying the fish.

Shops:

The Watershed at the V&A Waterfront, opened in 2014 and is now a beautiful space showcasing the best of social entrepreneurship in South Africa, many of the items here have been made as part of skill share and development projects.

De Waterkant - great for lifestyle shopping, creatives, artists, home wear, boutiques and coffee shops Grab your coffee from the .Origin Coffee.  

Mungo and Jemima - beautiful and timeless pieces all hand picked from some of South Africa’s most well known designers, shop on Long Street and V&A Waterfront.

A few last minute Christmas Presents Ill pick up from the Kin Shop - all South African designers stocking the most beautiful items. 

A Coffee Shop I’m Keen To Visit

Truth Coffee in Buitenkant street, the Telegraph named it as the best in the world, along with Amercian Website - Daily Meal naming it as their 2nd coolest coffee shop in the world!  If you go at night they also stock Hope gin!!!!

Old Biscuit Mill - Woodstock

Home to many designer shops and stalls, coffee shops, restaurants, bars and markets. Most famously -

Neighbourgoods Market (Saturday Morning)

Potluck Club

Test Kitchen - One of the worlds best 50 restaurants! Try to get in quick as Luke Dale Roberts the chef is up to Joburg in January to host a new restaurant at the Saxon.

If you aren’t heading to the restaurants at the Old Biscuit mill not to worry there are world class coffee shops and South Africa’s best ICE CREAM - the Creamery (which is an absolute favourite of Lizzet co owner of Nomads and Co) their naartjie and chic chip being the best a truely south african flavour. 

Then for Coffee: 

- Espresso Lab Micro Roasters Old Biscuit Mill - Woodstock

- Rosetta Roastery - in Woodstock Exchange

Shops to visit - Vamp, Zana, Dear Rae

Christmas In The Cape The open air Summer Concerts at Kirstenbosch are fabulous, and each year Rotary Club organise a Carol Concert. Be aware that these are Carols by Candlelight so don’t start until around 8pm, and its a long walk from the car (with children and picnic stuff), but if you manage all that - its well worth it, to sing carols under the stars with beautiful view. Memories I will take with me forever! It’s a very special atmosphere, for a very special event.

Church:

We love to go to a Carol service and Christmas service at some stage over the Christmas period, so this year we will either head to St George’s Cathedral in the city centre, or  our friends church at Christ Church Constantia.

NEW YEARS EVE: 

• Kirstenbosch New Years Eve Concert

• V&A Waterfront Fireworks

• Grand South Carnival @ Cape Point Vineyards

• Scarborough Beach - New Years Eve Sundowners - The local community all head down to the beach, to toast in the new year as the sun goes down, kids, dogs, and couple guys with bag pipes, this is a secrete gem not to be missed.

Sadly many of the Christmas events in the wine farms and markets take place at the start of December, there is the famous Uncle Pauls Children's party, which we have never managed to be organised enough to get tickets for, but I hear is well worth it, particularly for older children.

South Africa Vs England Cricket

Newlands 2-6th January 2015. Lucky to have tickets will probably have a girls day, boys day and kids day!  

Do You Know Of Any Other Christmas Events I Have Missed?  

Hope This Has Provided You With Some Inspiration On What You Can Get Up To In This Incredible City, For Further Info Why Not Check Out Some Of The Local Blogs:

CAPE TOWN BLOGS: 

1. Lana provides insights into the best gems in Cape Town, giving up to date news on new restaurants, shops and creative tours.

2. The Stellenbosch Mom - Great article on Wine Farms and kids!

3. Clara Wiggins - Expat Partner Survival - great posts on her recent trip to Cape Town

4. Becoming You - Great post on things to do with kids in Cape Town, brilliant indoor ideas if the weather is a little windy!

Summary My Top 12 Family Things Not To Miss: 

1. Noordhoek Farm Village

2. Shop Local - great meat, fish, wine......

3. Kirstenbosch Carols

4. Cape Point Vineyard - picnic, market, sundowner,

5. Atlantic Beach - Scarborough New Years Eve Sundowners

6. Indian Beach - Fish Hoek (avoid boxing day 26th December) 

7. Kalk Bay

8. Test Kitchen  

9. Cape Town - Shopping

10. Cape Town - Gin Distillery

11. Cape Town - Aquarium

12. Wine Lands - many picnics or grape tasting

Please note this blog is all my own personal opinions, I always declared when I have been paid or sponsored to showcase a product or service. 

Best stop over from Johannesburg to Cape Town

Bloemhofkaroo Guest House, Hygge away from Home

The annual migration from Johannesburg to the coast has become an institution for our family. Perhaps surprisingly, the 15hour drive with three kids, two grandparents and a dog (not in order of importance) is something we look forward to, almost as much as the long holiday stretching out before us. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, we find the trip cathartic, a therapeutic cleansing of the busy period leading up to the Xmas break. The second reason is the Bloemhofkaroo Guest House.

The Bloemhofkaroo is located 25km south of Richmond on the N1, an 8hour drive from Johannesburg. As a result, it is over the half way mark to both Cape Town and Kenton-On-Sea, so purely by the virtues of geography it suits us perfectly. However, to say that this is a pit-stop of convenience would greatly undermine its appeal.  This can best be illustrated by the fact that we have never just stayed one night, two is the minimum, but three we think is perfect.  

What makes the place so special?  

Well, I could wax lyrical about the beautiful historic home with well-appointed rooms, or the legendary long sunsets beheld from the stoep with a gin and tonic in hand, or how the stars at night punctuate the black sky with their bright beaming light. You can see some amazing pictures on the website, so please take a look.   I could write about the hiking, the biking and the safari’s, all of which help the restless, rest. I do want to mention the food, which is unpretentious, plentiful and utterly delicious.  No slate plates, smoke infusions or foam here. Just great family food, morning, noon and night.

 What I want to talk about is how the Bloemhofkaroo makes us all feel.  The best word in the English language would be ‘welcome’ but the Danes would say ‘hygge’, which is probably better.  Staying at this guesthouse is like one long consistent embrace, from the friendly staff, from the comfortable rooms, from the private dining room where our family can sit and eat together, from the slow plodding tortoises and from the whinnying horses.  Each and all, takes our merry band with a grace and patience that very often I don’t feel us-especially after a long drive.  As we drive off the N1 we take a collective sigh of relief, tinged with excitement, for we know for the next few days we will be welcomed.      

 The Bloemhofkaroo is different from other guest houses because they offer a home and not just a house or a bed for the night.  This isn’t easy to replicate. Its not easy to find. But lucky for you, you know just where it is.          

For more information and to check availability please see their website here: http://bloemhof-karoo.co.za/

Have a specific question about your trip? I have a heap of resources across on our Instagram account, come say hi over there, or email me here.

Planning a Children's Birthday Party in South Africa

Looking for help planning a birthday party in South Africa? Whether you are looking for child-friendly party venues, party suppliers, birthday cakes or something special, such as a magician or performer, we have you covered. In this mega list, we give you a wide list of resources that will make party planning a breeze. Keep reading! We cover ideas for Johannesburg area AND Cape Town!

Image by the amazing Zsuzsanna Fedak Photography

A Stress-Free Guide to Party Planning in South Africa

First things first, take a deep breath. We know how tough it can be to plan a child's birthday. When you are a long way from home, in a brand new country, without your usual support network, this task becomes even more stressful. To help you get started, we have put together a list of tips, resources and info that make party planning in South Africa as stress-free as possible. (Scroll down for Cape Town ideas!)

1. Birthday Party Suppliers in Joburg

Venues:

REEA Urban Farm (Braamfontein)

Johannesburg Country Club (Auckland Park)

Indaba Hotel (Fourways)

Bryanston Country Club (Sandton)

BOUNCE Trampoline Park Waterfall (Midrand/ Various)

Model Train Park / The Rand Society of Model Engineers -

AcroBranch Melrose (Melrose)

Jungle Joes Party Adventures (Bramley)

Avalanche (Fourways)

Gold Reef City (Ormonde)

Entertainers:

Smilemakers – wide range of entertainment options from magic to face painting

MonkeyMagic – making kids party dreams come true

Magic Circle Entertainment – magicians and illusionists

Facepaint Fanatix – balloon animals, face painting and more

Jumpees Jumping Castles Hire – jumping castles for hire

Baby Boffins – kids art lessons

Cakes:

Paul's Homemade Ice Cream Cakes (Parkhurst/ Rosebank - various)

Emily's Cakes (Observatory)

Inspired Cakes (Sandton)

Cake And Bake (Honeydew)

Decorations:

Flower Spot (Woodmead)

Westpack Lifestyle (Various Branches)

Kidz Cardz & Party Buckets (Alberton)

PartyNet (Edenvale)

Party Planners

Bash

Pudding and Pie (Nicky)

Count on Us

2. Birthday Party Suppliers in Cape Town

Venues

The River Club (Observatory)

The Play Shed (Pinelands)

Lasertag Cape Town (Various Locations)

The Blue Train Park (Mouille Point)

Ottery Barnyard (Ottery)

Clay Cafe (Hout Bay)

Wild Clover Farm (Stellenbosch)

Ratanga Junction (Century City)

Entertainers

Hip Hip Hooray - helium Balloons, jumping castles, parties, carnivals, events and more

Glendini – kids magic shows and more

Face Choice – face painting and other fun

Matt Gore - The Ginger Ninja – hilarious magic and entrainment shows

Rumble Grumble Parties – jumping castles for hire

Cakes

Freya's Speciality Cakes (Meadowridge)

Charly's Bakery (Zonnebloem)

The Velvet Cake Co. (CBD)

Sweetest Perfection Novelty Cakes and Cake Toppers (Kirstenhof)

Decorations

Funky Bananas Party Store (Brackenfell)

King Cake Party City (Various)

Party Planners

SA Kids On The Go

Whimsical Parties

Bazinga Parties

3. Party Pack Ideas

I really hate giving away meaningless party packs, full of additional sugar, and more plastic, but its hard to think of alternatives. Here are a few suggestions, but I would love to know if you have any ideas?

• Balloons with sweets at the bottom

• Play-dough

• Lego pieces

• CD of favourite music

• Biscuits (animal or themed)

• Glow sticks

• Mini puzzles

• Small books

Have a specific question? Or need advice on a party for a certain age, come and ask for feedback inside our Moving to South Africa Facebook Group.

What is the best route for a Road Trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town?

Back in the UK a road trip was anything over an hour! Since moving to South Africa we have learnt that most people thinking nothing off putting the kids in the car and driving 10 - 12 hours!

At the end of our first year in Joburg we headed to the Transkei for Christmas.  It was the longest road trip we had ever done. We drove the route over 2 long days which looking back will be one of the most memorable trips we have taken for good and bad reasons. Good: Beautiful scenery and the sense of adventure in the new routes undertaken. Bad: locking the keys and the dogs in the car, a burst oil pipe and driving through the largest thunder storm over Van Buren pass (at night) in years.   What a journey, loved (in hindsight) every minute. 

 We are learning, and now Road Trips are something we have come to love and don’t think twice about jumping in the car for a weekend away to Durban (5/6yrs) or out to Madikwe (4/5yrs).  

This year we are driving 16 hours down to Cape Town with twin boys (2yrs) and our girl (4yrs) and ridgeback dog, which is going to take some preparation.

Here is my research to date, which covers - route selection, places to stay and other tips for making it the best road trip ever!!

Johannesburg to Cape Town some 1400 km on the N1 - put it into your sat nav and it will say continue on this road for 1,401 kilometres.......

The Route: 

Option 1: N1 

(15/16 hours) 

• Leave Joburg on M2

• Take M1 N to Christian Barnard St/M60

• Take N1 exit to Cape Town

• Pass through Bloemfontein

• Colesberg

• Richmond

• Beaufort West

• In to Cape Town via the Wine Lands

We stayed at the beautiful Bloemhof Karoo - click here to read our review.

Route 2: 1519km 

Not much more than standard 1400km on N1, route taken from Traveller 24   

• Joburg - Kimberley

• Kimberly N12 to N1 at Three Sisters

• Continue N1 through Beautfort west

• N12 - Outdshoorn

• Outdshoorn to George

• George - N2 - Cape Town

Route 3: The Ultimate Road Trip Of South Africa 

Around  2,500Km Route supplied by South Africa To

• Leave Joburg N3 - Vaal River 

• Head onto R26 towards Bethlehem

• Clarens - R712 - R711 towards Ficksburg

• Fouriesburg change from R711 onto R26 (again)

• At Ficksburg you will enter Lesotho

• Lesotho visit Maseru

• Head back into SA back on R26

• Rouxville - N6

• Then head onto R58 crossing the Orange River

• R56 towards Middelburg

• N9 South to Graaff Reinet

• N12 to Oudtshoorn

• George - Mossel Bay

• N2 Heidelberg (start Garden Route)

• Hermanus

• Cape Town

Going To Eastern Cape - Portfolio Collection 

Not heading to Cape Town but Plet or Port Elizabeth - Click here for Back Road Route, highlighting some wonderful stop overs and places to eat along the way. 

Where To Stop 

 N1 route: Day 1
1. Windmill casino in Bloemfontein (the Spur) has a good play area for the kids and off the road so the dogs can run around a bit.
2.  Colesburg or our fav is the Karoo Padstal just before Richmond on the right (has red flags leading up to it).
3. Service Stations / Padstals - usually yummy home baked goods for quick stop

Stay Over:  

• Beaufort West (small town in Cape Karoo) - 930Km from Joburg and 460Km to Cape Town, so majority of your drive will be done on day 1

Lemoenfontein Game Lodge
Ko kat sara Bush Camp 

If this is too far to drive in one day - you can stop off in Colesberg at Kuilfontein Stable Cottages 
or we love to stay at the Bloemhof see my review here.
 
Take the additional day to head to Graaf Reinet and Camdeboo National Park, fellow blogger 2summers has a great write up of this beautiful stop over.  READ IT HERE 

Or slight D Tour to Gariep Dam - DeStijl Hotel

 
Day 2 stops: standard N1 route: 
 1. Matjiesfontein - very cute little town. Nice to grab lunch at the coffee shop, dogs can sit out back with you. Nice to walk around the town as well. 

Kimberly Route 2:

Stay at Country Club Kimberly

There are also lots of little Farm Stalls on route, selling uniquely South African items such as Rose Geranium Cordial, Lamb and mint Pies, Fig Jam and Biltong. Check out Food Jams post by Jade de Waal 

General Tips: 

    •    Leave early to avoid queues at the tolls
    •    Have a map and backups to your GPS
    •    Take enough small change / cash for the tolls (don’t accept foreign credit cards, and only some accept south african credit cards)  
    •    The big petrol stations have grassy areas for the dogs so make great pit stops. 
    •    Stick to Speed Limit (usually - 120km/h major routes / 100km/h secondary roads, and 60km/h in towns)  
    •    Pull over into hard shoulder (yellow line) to let cars pass and then thank other drivers by flashing your hazard lights. 
    •    Make sure you have your drivers licence on you and certified photocopies of your passports (or actual passports)
    •    Don’t leave your bag or valuables in the car when stopping at service station and double check manually your car is locked as car jammers (systems that block your automatic central locking)  operate over the holiday season. 
    •    Avoid traveling in the dark (the conditions of the roads aren’t always great, and often deserted).   

Emergency Numbers To Have In Your Phone:

The best advice I have is to download this app! It literally enables you to get the support you need where ever you are in country. 

https://namola.com/

    •    ER24 paramedics: 084 124
    •    Police/Fire Department: 10111
    •    Ambulance: 10117
    •    Arrive Alive Call Centre: 0861 400 800
    •    Netcare Emergency: 082 911

Also your insurance details, who to call in emergency and break down. 

Other Places to stay - AirBnB and Greenwood Guide / Portfolio Collection

Where To Go On Holiday In South Africa

Planning a holiday is essential, and you’ll need to do so in advance in South Africa. South Africans love to travel and explore, so the good destinations get booked well in advance of the holiday times, and the peak holidays may be crowded at the popular sites. Seeing and enjoying this beautiful country will bring you experiences that will last a lifetime. Jump on board!

When Will You Travel?

For those with school-going children, go here for a printable school calendar! HOWEVER you must check with your school for exact dates. Public and private schools often differ in their holiday schedules.

Since 1994, South Africa has adopted new structures in so many ways, and one of them is incorporation of new holidays. Here is a list of some holidays that you’ll uniquely celebrate here. We will discuss these further in our monthly emails or on our Facebook Group!

Unique South African Holidays

21 March - Human Rights Day, remembering the Sharpeville Massacre
27 April - Freedom Day, remembering the first democratic elections in 1994
16 June - Youth Day, remembering the Soweto Uprising of 1976
9 August - National Women’s Day, a day thousands of women in 1956 marched to petition the extension of pass laws to women
24 September - Heritage Day
16 December - Day of Reconciliation, previously Dingane’s Day, this is a re-appropriation of the rememberance of the Battle of Blood River, which was traditionally celebrated by Afrikaners as a day of victory against Dingane’s Zulu army. For more, visit the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria.

Where Would You Like To Go?

South Africa is divided into nine provinces, Gauteng (Johannesburg’s province) is located just above the middle. South Africa has seven different terrestrial biomes, or types of dominant vegetation, which can influence your choice of holiday. Do you want a beach holiday with whale watching? Mountain holiday? Wine and art scene holiday? Or a desert adventure to see the Namaqualand daisies of the Succulent Karoo?

For a full description of all the different provinces, the different vegetation, climate, and tourism highlights of each area,
please see the post Provinces of South Africa.

Especially if you live here, it is pretty simple to organize your own holiday, but there are loads of local tour guides available to help visitors and locals alike. Sometimes opting to pay a bit extra for a guide is welcome when you have limited time to see things, have no time to look for the best deals, are trying to organize a group of visitors, or are unsure about your safety precautions. Local guides are more than welcome to show you around, even for a city tour where you already live!

Looking for Accommodation?

MT Beds

Bush Breaks

Budget Getaways

Portfolio Collection (for more upmarket guesthouses and accommodation)

South African National Parks

Booking.com

LekkeSlaap (opt for English if you don’t speak Afrikaans!)

But That’s Not All!

Swaziland and Lesotho: Two landlocked countries in South Africa, Lesotho offers mountainous adventures while Swaziland is known for its glass-making industry and game reserves. The Sani pass in Lesotho is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, but be sure to be in a 4x4 car.

Victoria Falls: Considered to be one of the main energy centres of the world, it’s been said that you haven’t been to Africa unless you’ve been to “Vic” Falls.

Madagascar: A bit more off the beaten track, Madagascar’s tourism infrastructure is largely underdeveloped, but there are resorts at places like Nosy Be and also some more rustic accommodation options for those looking for more of an adventure.

Mozambique: The roads from Johannesburg all the way up to Vilanculos is tarred and easy to navigate on a self-drive holiday. It’s best to have a 4x4 if you intend on exploring more rural areas. Otherwise you can fly to Pemba, Inhambane, and Maputo, depending on where you want to go. Popular tourist destinations are Maputo, Tofo, Vilanculos, Ponto Do Ouro, Ponta Malongane and luxury resorts all the way along the coast.

Namibia: Namibia is largely a desert, which means either renting your own 4x4 and taking a drive or joining a tour group on a desert safari. There are a number of luxury and budget accommodations available. The towns along the coast are also popular tourist destinations, fro example, Swakopmund.

Zanzibar: An island destination just off the coast of Tanzania, you can fly direct to Zanzibar from Joburg, and there are affordable package options available that include flights.

Mauritius: A hub for commerce and resort holidays, Mauritius is a popular luxury getaway destination for South Africans, especially for honeymoons.

Seychelles: An archipelago with islands of varying sizes, the Seychelles are also another luxury getaway destination for South Africans.

Other Ideas?

Slackpacking is a way to explore nature without the effort. Find out more about South Africa’s variety of slackpacking trails.

Some planning resources: http://www.openafricatravel.com/

Driving and Buying a Car in South Africa

In South Africa, the majority get around in mini-bus taxis or buses, but as an expat, it’s likely that you will be able to afford your own car and will prefer to drive yourself. This is the easiest and most convenient way to get around Joburg (unless you’re stuck in peak traffic, which happens!) Owning a car as an expat involves some effort, but with all the right documents, and patience, you’ll be able to buy and register a car.

We recommend that each adult has access to a car (it will make your life much easier). But, make sure you are both prepared to drive on the right side of the car, left side of the road!

Driving in South Africa happens on the left side of the road, and the driver is on the right side of the car.

You do not need an additional drivers license unless your ID card is not in English. In this case, you need a International Drivers Permit. Always carry a copy of your passport, your drivers license, and the car registration tag (usually posted on the windshield). If you are getting residency, then you will need to apply for a South African Drivers License.

NOTE: Services like Uber are very popular, so make use of them, especially if you’re going downtown or plan to drink alcohol. 

Finding a Car

For the price difference, you may want to look to buy a second-hand car in good condition. You can research online to see what’s available, as the models available might differ slightly from other countries: http://www.autotrader.co.za/  

To give you an idea, here is a list of the top 10 passenger cars sold in South Africa as of July 2016: 

    1.    Volkswagen Polo Vivo
    2.    Volkswagen Polo
    3.    Toyota Corolla Quest and Auris
    4.    Toyota Etios
    5.    Ford Fiesta
    6.    Ford EcoSport
    7.    Toyota Fortuner
    8.    BMW 3 series
    9.    Renault Sandero
    10.    Ford Figo

Other common models, especially in Gauteng, are Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Hyundai i10S, Honda Jazz and Toyota Quantums and Volkswagen Kombis (the car of choice for mini-bus taxis).

Most cars in South Africa are manual transmission but automatics are becoming more common. It’s advisable to get a car that also has ABS breaks, power steering, airbags and adequate boot (trunk) space, especially if you have children.

You’ll see most of these popular cars are white in color. This is because white will reflect the hot sun just a little bit more, and it blends in so that you don’t stand out.

SAFETY FIRST!

Hi-Jacking and Smash-and-Grab

There’s no need to be overly paranoid, but know that in certain areas of Johannesburg, especially in the wealthier suburbs and downtown, that vehicle crime is an unfortunate reality. 

To mitigate your risk, know which cars are targeted for hi-jacking by criminals. These models are popular and easier to take apart and to be used as spare parts. These high-risk models include:

    •    Toyota Fortuner
    •    Volkwagen Polo
    •    Toyota Quantum
    •    Toyota Hi-ace
    •    Nissan 1400
    •    Toyota Hilux
    •    Toyota Venture
    •    Toyota Corolla

Avoid driving in high-risk areas or at late night/early morning, but unfortunately hi-jacking may happen anywhere. Take an Uber if you feel unsafe in a certain area.

Smash-and-grab can also happen anywhere. Keep your valuables, purses, laptops out of sight from passersby, either under your seat or in the boot of your car at all times. When leaving your car, always be sure to keep your valuables in the boot where they cannot be seen. Double check your doors are locked, as it is common that criminals have remote lock jamming devices to keep your doors open. If your car will not lock, get back in and drive away.

Smash-and-Grab Protection

This is a plastic film will prevent the glass shattering if someone breaks your window during what is known as a smash-and-grab, where a criminal will break a window to steal something out of your car when you are stopped at a robot (traffic light). Keeping your window open a fraction also makes breaking a window more difficult.

Other preventative tactics include always leaving adequate space in front of you and the next car when stopped at a robot, this will give you a chance to maneuver in the event that someone does try to break your window. 

Also, it is common that people do not come to a complete stop at intersections when roads are open and cars are not seen. We recommend you drive safely and defensively at all times, but if you ever feel unsafe or threatened, put your safety first!

Children in Cars

It is the law for children 3 and under to be strapped into a car seat at all times. Beyond that, the laws are few and rarely enforced. It is estimated that much less than 60% of children in vehicles even use car seats, and the thought of this is frightening. We recommend you secure your children in the car as you see fit… and get a car seat!

You can buy car seats at Baby City, Babies R Us (Toys R Us), Makro, Game, or other stores that carry baby items. You can also find ones from people in your area or expat groups selling old ones which works out well, provided they have never been in an accident.

4x4 Vehicles in South Africa

In Johannesburg 4x4 or SUV’s are common. One of the South African customs we adopted as a family is to go on long road trips to the coast, and so now need a larger car to pack all the bikes / beach gear etc, plus its great to get off road exploring either on safari or in Lesotho. (Most game reserves will allow you to drive you own car, but 4x4 cars will have access to more roads and be able to get through rougher terrain than others!)

Note that you’ll spend a lot more on fuel though!

To give you an idea of what’s available, here are the top 10 SUV’s in South Africa in 2016:

    •    Ford EcoSport
    •    Toyota Fortuner* (See above)
    •    Renault Captur
    •    Toyota Rav4
    •    Ford Kuga
    •    Nissan Qashqai
    •    Nissan X-Trail
    •    Volkswagen Tiguan
    •    Jeep Grand Cherokee
    •    Toyota Prado

Land Rovers, BMW X5, and Volvo's are very common amongst the expat community and you can often pick one up from someone that is leaving. Other common utility vehicles, which you’ll see more of in rural areas, are Ford Rangers and the Toyota Hilux.

How to Register a Car

In order to register a car, you will need to buy one first and organise the requisite finance (if needed). To secure finance you will need to have a bank account (See post on finances).

You’ll first buy the car (pay a deposit and secure finance), and will then receive a certificate of registration from the car dealership where you bought the car. This can be an issue if you do not have South African credit already accumulated. Discuss with your employer, sponsor, relocations agent, or bank representative what’s possible in your situation.

Without a South African ID, you will need to get a Traffic Register Number, but please note that the laws keep changing on this. Often you can only get a Traffic Register Number if you have a valid work permit or permanent visa (but not always!). 

Documents for the Traffic Register Number

To get a Traffic Register Number, register your car with the Traffic Department, and provide the following, which your car dealership should provide:

    •    Roadworthy certificate
    •    Current registration
    •    Invoice/Proof of payment

In order to get license plates for your car, go through the registration process at any branch of the Traffic Department. This can be very busy, so plan plenty of time!

In addition to the above documents, you will also need to provide the following documents to register a car:

    •    Proof of identification: Passport and passport pictures (for processing)
    •    Proof of residence: Lease agreement
    •    Proof of drivers license: Foreign drivers license

Insurance and Car Tracking

As crime is a problem in South Africa, it’s important to take out comprehensive insurance. Many South Africans also install a tracking device in their cars so they can be more easily traced if they are stolen.

There are various options available but the following are popular companies that operate around the country:

    •    Outsurance
    •    Miway
    •    Hollard
    •    Dialdirect
    •    Tracker
    •    Cartracks
    •    Matrix

Your car dealership will also be able to offer you some options to consider, and may be also able to organise this on your behalf.

If You Are Stopped…!

In the past few years there has been a noticeable increase in police and metro police presence in Johannesburg so be sure to always keep your driver’s license with you and make sure that your vehicle license is up to date. If not, you will be fined, and could potentially be arrested, if any of these are out of date.

Road blocks are not uncommon, but are not to worry about. Just keep your license, registration, copy of your passport with you. If you are flagged by a police officer at day in a busy area, you can pull over. They mostly just make sure your documents are in order.

With many minibus taxis notoriously unroadworthy, metro police have taken a hard stance on infringements, particularly DUI, so be careful and don’t drink and drive (stricter laws have just come into play). Even two drinks is too much. If you don’t have a designated driver, just take an Uber!

If you are asked to pay for an infringement that you do not agree with, you can always call your embassy, and tell the officer you will be doing this. Keep this number handy on your cell phone, and make sure your phone is charged!

ENJOY THE RIDE!

You will not avoid driving in South Africa, as public transit options are very very limited and walking or biking is often not an option for the commute. Make it a comfortable journey for you and your family- connect your bluetooth to your phone, get some excellent music, podcasts, audiobooks, even when driving around the city. Traffic jams are common, but just drive defensively, keep your phone charged, carry a pair of sunglasses, and you’ll be just fine.

Hiring Domestic Staff

The employment of household staff is common in South Africa by both local and expat families of all races, due to the large social-economic gap pervasive in the country (for cleaning, gardening, child care, etc.). It can be complicated, both morally and practically, and can dramatically improve your lifestyle in some ways. But, at the end of the day, it’s a personal choice for what’s best in your situation. 

When I first came to South Africa I was firmly against employing full time household staff but then I found Francina working and living in the home we were moving in to. My choice changed to hiring someone or whether to make a middle-aged woman unemployed and homeless. It made my decision easier… Although she retired shortly after my first child was born!!! Very wise of her!!  

I have been very lucky with the people we have employed. Each has been fantastic and we now have the most wonderful and joyful lady working with us. Nonhlanhla has been a massive blessing to my family, she brings fun and laughter to our house, loves our children, and looks after any guest like royalty.   
  
In truth, I now believe the moral question is not whether you choose to employ or not. Rather, if you do employ someone, how will you do it? In his inspirational The Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela wrote that:

“A Nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but it's lowest ones”.

I firmly believe that you can judge the character of a person and a household by how happy, engaged and fairly paid the domestic worker or nanny is.  (Please note that the term “maid” is used often but can be considered derogatory, and the word domestic worker is used instead.) 

Some South Africans are amazing employers and are helping in their own homes to rewrite the wrongs of the past. Many South Africans pay for their domestic worker’s children to attend the same private schools their own children go to, others pay for driving licenses, loans to buy property, cars, to put them through apprenticeships… there are 101 ways you can support an individual or family that makes your life a bit better.

Unfortunately here are still some who do still take advantage of people needing work. It is common to hear that employers don't pay a fair wage because they think they can always get someone else at a cheaper daily rate look after their children and homes. There are others who treat their employment as charity, expecting to be thanked, and favours to be returned for their generosity. There are also those who feel let down, betrayed or misunderstood.   

At the start of employment, I’ve always asked each person what they would like to do and will offer to pay for training in order for them to upskill (and ultimately let them escape us). Our first nanny took courses in health and safety, food preparation and crafts.  Our current nanny (the aforementioned Nonny) decided she would like to be a teacher. Each Saturday morning she attends college, and now has a job as a pre-school teacher.  

Having staff in the home is a big cultural difference if you aren’t used to it, but you can approach it the same as any other form of employment or relationship. Keep communication open and regular. Ask yourself if you could do that role, work those hours, and for that pay. I am sure you will hear good and bad stories, but your experience will be uniquely yours.

Things You Need To Know

The domestic worker industry has come a long way since 1994 at the end of apartheid. This is now a regulated industry that will require complying with the following legislation: 

• Common Laws of South Africa

• Labour Relations Act

• Basic Conditions of Employment Act

• Sectorial Determination of Domestic Workers

There is a domestic staff workers union who advocates for the industry, but it is rare that you hear of any formal reporting happening by employees or employers at this time, partly out of lack of information (and fear, honestly). But it does happen. Overall, it’s important to establish clear lines of communication and expectations upfront. A language barrier might be something you may need to overcome in some instances, as many domestic workers don’t speak English as their first language (common first languages are Zulu, Tswana, Pedi and Sotho). 

Live-In or Live-Out?

Most domestic workers will travel long distances for their jobs if they are live-out. Consider this in your pay rate or your expectations on hours and over-time work.

Most houses that you will see around the metro areas have domestic quarters on the property. You can choose to have a live-in support, or live-out support in either case. Be sure you see this attached or detached cottage and understand what quality of house you can provide for a domestic worker, if you want someone live-in.

Naturally, these women have lives of their own as well, and many have children. If they do have children, would the children be able to stay living with them, or are the children enrolled in a school across town? If they are living with you, how will the children interact with you and your family? We find it a blessing to have added South African family/siblings to our household, but not everyone is so open. Think about what works for you and your family and be clear about what you expect!

Finding a Domestic Worker

The most common way of finding a domestic worker is to reach out to your network for recommendations. If you are just moving here, you may not have a network yet, so you can either wait until you find someone to trust, use a professional recruitment service. Ask your realtor or relocations group for advices.

It is common for your residential neighborhood, area, workspace, or whatever community you find yourself in to have a Facebook Group or WhatsApp Group. Its a great way to ask for recommendations. At any time, you are welcome to ask for advice on our Moving To South Africa Facebook Group as well!

Professional Recruitment Services

• Sweep South (A newly established online portal where you can book cleaning appointments online with screened domestic workers. This is includes insurance and is very affordable for ad hoc cleaning.)

• Domestic Bliss

• Domestic Guardians

• Little Sunshines (Au pair agency)

To employ domestic workers to look after children, make sure you have a more in-depth research and interview process. Many service providers can offer this support to find the right fit. 

Healthcare

HIV/AIDS is notoriously prevalent in South Africa, although it is illegal to require someone to reveal their status. However, many professional recruitment services will require domestic workers to have a tuberculosis (TB) screening.

SEE OUR HEALTHCARE BLOG POST FOR FURTHER GUIDANCE ON HIV AND DOMESTIC WORKERS.

You may want to outline expectations about healthcare upfront. There are public hospitals that will provide services, and you should find the one closest to your home in an emergency. It is your choice if you want to support your worker or worker’s family in the case of a health crises. It may be something you want to consider, as we often hear of problems surrounding ongoing medication, tests, doctor visits, emergencies, and the like. Set an agreement about what you will and will not consider when health is a challenge.

Wages

Wages are paid at month’s end. You can pay in cash, EFT, or even send money via your bank App. Whatever suits your worker.

When determining a wage for your domestic worker, you’ll need to consider the following:

    •    Hours of work
    •    Overtime pay
    •    Salary increases
    •    Deductions (for example, rental for a live-in space)
    •    Annual and sick leave

Minimum wages differs between urban (A) and non-urban areas (B), so make sure you know what you need to comply with, although in most cases (unless you live just outside of Johannesburg), you’ll need to comply with the wages set out in A. Most people will pay at least R350 per day, plus money for transport, and meals in addition. This then will be increased each annual in line with inflation. 

About meals… on a regular day, you should be sure to feed all your domestic helpers, including gardeners and cleaners. It is standard to give them tea and a breakfast, and lunch. If you choose not to do this, tell them in advance and give them a small bit of extra pay for the day’s meals.

This is a great tool if you are employing someone full time, to ensure you are covering basic costs of living: http://living-wage.co.za

Follow this link for everything else you need to know (including a contract template).

Employment Contract

It’s advisable and legally required to have a formal employment contract set out before hiring a domestic worker full-time. See link above for a template. Part-time workers usually do not expect a contract, but you can choose to create one that clearly outlines expectations.

Also consider that you will need to register and deduct costs like UIF from your employee’s monthly wages. UIF is the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Some people opt to deduct costs like health insurance and airtime from monthly wages, but this is not regulated and will need to be agreed to in the contract.

Be aware when hiring someone that labour law is very strict in South Africa, and if an employee feels that you have dismissed them unfairly you will taken to the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration), so make sure understand all the legal requirements and a clear contract agreement in place to avoid any potential conflict. 

Advice For Making A Contract

• Having a job description is vital!

• It is helpful to set up a cleaning schedule and lay out clear expectations as some domestic workers may be more experienced than others, and some will need some guidance as to where, how and how often to clean, and which cleaning products to use.

• LEAVE: Ensure that in the employment contract annual leave is clearly defined as to whether it is entitled to or on an accumulation.

• TERMINATION: Termination of a contract should always be in writing. It is custom to help find your domestic worker another job, and to pay anywhere between 3 months - 1 year salary as compensation.

• SUNDAY: Sunday work needs to be agreed on by both the employee and employer. Generally, if the employee works on a Sunday he/she shall be paid double the daily wage. Of it it is the routine to work Sundays, he/she shall be paid one and a half times the wage for every hour. Paid time-off in return for working on a Sunday may be agreed upon.

• Family Responsibility leave is for five (5) days.

• The Sectorial Determination prohibits an employer from deducting any monies from the workers’ wages without his/her written permission.

• LANGUAGE: Your domestic worker’s language skills may not be the same as yours! Be sure to sit down with her/him and go over your contract verbally so you both understand the expectations and ask questions of each other.

If you choose to employ workers in your household in any capacity, we hope you find the right person to make your life just a bit more enjoyable here in South Africa!

Cost of Living and Getting Set Up in South Africa

We have already discussed Bank Accounts and Mobile Phones and Internet. This week we look at the general cost of living and setting up all your utilities.

AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD BUDGET

Your monthly budget will depend largely on your lifestyle, and what sort of corporate package (if any) you are on. There is a brilliant comparison website Numbeo whereby you can type in your current city, and new destination to compare all the typical living costs.

But to give you a rough idea here is our average monthly budget. 

There are some things such as security (R600 per month) and private School Fee's that you may not pay for back at home. However eating out, wine, and entertainment is much cheaper. 

• Rent (3 bed house) R30,000 - R70,000 per month

• Electricity / Water/ Waste R3500

• Healthcare (family of 5) around R4000- R8000 per month

• School Fees R3,500 - R7,500 per child per month

• Car / House Insurance R4000 per month

• Petrol R2500 +/- (keep this in mind when choosing a place to live and daily distances travelled)

• Food shopping R6500 +/- per month

• Eating out and coffee (a very popular past time in Joburg) about R3500

• Entertainment (events, cinema and live shows) R1200

• Phone account (both landline and cellphone) R450 - R1500

• Internet (Fixed landline and ISP or just fibre, depending on whether this is available) R950

• Domestic Worker (depending on the contract, this can involve paying for airtime as well, as it’s common for home helpers to run out of airtime and this can make it very difficult to get in touch) R6500 +/- 

• Gardener R350 per day (1500 per month for 1 day a week) 

• TV R800 for DSTV, or if you have a smart TV use netflix

• Gym R300 - R1500

• Wine ………………. 

In addition to the above, your car will be much higher cost, you can expect to pay at least R300,000 + South Africa imports of their cars, and they come along way - so they are very expensive.  Its also good to remember there is a high import tax applied to most luxury goods, to most branded items are much more expensive to buy here. 

UTILITIES

In most rental agreements, water is included, but if you don’t have a prepaid electricity meter, its best you ask for your electricity to be added to your monthly rental invoice, and your landlord can send you the meter reading so you can check it.

Refuse removal is also included in most rental agreements if you live in an apartment complex or housing estate. Note the day that refuse is removed in your area, and make sure your bin is out first thing in the morning, or you take your rubbish to the collective waste removal area in your apartment or housing complex.

Recycling still isn't that wide spread, some area's will pick up your paper, but recycling still tends to happen by people looking for work, and thus going through bins to collect your recycling and taking it to the relevant centres for you (they then get paid per bottle or container). We sort our recycling out and put it in a clear bag at the top of our bins. There is also a great organisation that is formalising this process by employing the same collection people to work directly for them - http://wholeearth.co.za/

POST OFFICE

The national postal service has come under fire recently for poor service delivery due to internal management issues, but while you can’t always rely on the post office 100%, it’s still functional and can help you with the following:

• Local postage

• International postage (although for speedy delivery it’s advisable to use a courier service like DHL, Aramex, PostNet, Dawn Wing or FedEx, even though these services will be more expensive. Note that when receiving an online shopping purchase from an international retailer you might need to pay import tax duties so take this into consideration when making the purchase)

• Car license renewals

• Paying for your TV license

Furthering Your Career Whilst Living in Joburg

Living in a new place is daunting, and sometimes wears on our confidence of who we are, and what we are capable of. Sometimes, to live the life you want you need a new purpose or new perspective. Here are some things for you to think about as you think about your time living in Joburg, whether it is temporary or permanent!

It is important to think how to create a weekly routine in your new life. It helps to give you the certainty and structure that we crave. Whether you are in full time employment or have time to fill, here are our suggestions on how you can gain new skills and further your career whilst living in Johannesburg.

VOLUNTEERING OR WORKING FOR AN NPO/NGO

In general, South Africa is a fairly advanced country when it comes to most kinds of technological and industrial development, but what you’ll find is that there is a glaring gap between those who have access to the direct benefits of this development and those who don’t.

As a visitor and expat, this economic divide can be very overwhelming and uncomfortable, but there is a lot that you can do to contribute to organisations that are working to build an economy that supports education, entrepreneurs, and the growth of small to medium businesses (SME’s).

As Johannesburg and Gauteng have the largest population density in the country, you’ll find no lack of opportunities to work with people if that is something you are interested in. As ad hoc volunteering is welcomed, but often not conducive to sustainable change, taking up a more extended position at a local or international NGO could be an option if you are looking to do something rewarding with your time in South Africa.

NGO Pulse is an online publication that gives a broad overview of the Non-Profit and Non-Governmental landscape in South Africa, and also lists available vacancies: http://www.ngopulse.org/

For Good is an online search engine that connects your skills and availability to current opportunities. https://www.forgood.co.za/   

Contact an organisation that works in an area that you’re passionate about and ask about how to get involved. Volunteering is a big tourism industry in South Africa, which charges international visitors to take part in volunteer and internship programmes. You can sidestep paying to volunteer, unless this is affordable or something of interest to you (the main target market for these programmes are university students and recent graduates).

SETTING UP YOUR OWN BUSINESS

Unemployment is a huge problem in South Africa, and entrepreneurship is highly encouraged. Setting up your own business can be a great opportunity. If you choose to hire someone that could be added opportunity to pass on your skills to a local and help them grow their career!

Depending on your visa and what work you’re allowed to do, here are some ideas of growing industries in South Africa to consider:

eCOMMERCE PLATFORMS: with the success of online retailers like Yuppiechef, Superbalist and One Day Only, this industry is growing as people start to trust online retailers more and courier services become more efficient.

VIRTUAL ROLES: Virtual assistants are becoming more and more popular, and with increasing numbers of people starting up online businesses, support assistance is needed. This is most needed for administrative and marketing support, so it could be worthwhile investigating a role that suits your skills and needs, and which could also provide some flexibility. 

EDUCATION: With an education system that is changing but has historically not served the majority of the population, especially in more rural areas, there is definitely a need for skills development and education in all areas, so investing your time in supporting an educational initiative could be very worthwhile.

Skills development is also a major component of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), which aims to rectify the injustices of the past by prioritising the development of previously disadvantaged individuals.

It’s important to note that BEE has been introduced to bridge the gap created by historic lack of access to education and employment. Preference will always be given to locals with the relevant criteria, so keep this in mind when applying for a job as a foreigner. 

Want to find out more or have questions on how to start your own business? We often run online webinars and meet up events to discuss the opportunities. Contact us with questions, or join the Portable Careers for Expats Facebook Group for regular updates or webinars!

TRADITIONAL JOBS

It’s not impossible to get a job in South Africa, especially if you have certain critical skills and speak different languages, but you will need to go through an extensive process to apply (see BEE note above).

Here are some popular job search websites:

Bizcommunity: http://www.bizcommunity.com
Career24: http://www.careers24.com/
Career Junction: https://www.careerjunction.co.za/

It’s more old school, but also keep an eye out for listings in local newspapers… as you never know! Noticeboards at supermarkets or community centres also post job listings.Check out…
The Rosebank Killarney Gazette
Sandton Chronicle
Randburg Sun

Networking

Using your network has a huge influence on finding a job. Make use of social media pages and groups! Join groups like LinkedIn and update your profile to showcase your personal story and brand! With more online networking in South Africa than ever before, it can also be helpful to join a local organisation or group to meet people and discover all kinds of opportunities.

Internations Johannesburg
MeetUp.com
Moving to South Africa (Run by Translating Me!)

Or join a CO-WORKING SPACE to have opportunity to rub elbows with other entrepreneurs! There are co-working spaces all over the metro area, and some actively encourage networking. Find a space near you at this site.

If you speak a foreign language, want to learn one, or are interested in expanding your international network, here is a list of organizations in the area at Expatica.com.

NOT THE RIGHT VISA?

If you have a Visitor Visa and are unable to work locally, you might consider working remotely. Here is a post we put together: Careers to Start From Home.

Or find inspiration on our Pinterest board here.

THE MAIN POINT IS…

Don’t let a lack of confidence or the wrong visa make you think you need to put your life on hold. You can further your career and professional development in all kinds of ways. Online tools are getting more accessible every year- making opportunities to study, work, learn, network, and use your skills! Alternatively, there’s nothing wrong in choosing to enjoy your new expat life and focus on your family, traveling, and learning about South Africa. Just be sure to take care of yourself and your needs at the same time!

Make sure you join our Portable Careers for Expats Facebook Group, or reach out to us directly if you have any questions!

To read more about how to find your “Sparkle”,
continue on our Translating Me blog:
Staying Relevant Whilst On Your Career Break.

Health Care Options in South Africa

South Africa has some of the most well-trained doctors and medical professionals in the world, but unfortunately, while you’ll definitely find adequate care in many private facilities, most public healthcare in the country is unfortunately understaffed and under-resourced.

This means that you’ll need to set up a healthcare investment such as medical aid or a hospital plan to make use of private, and more expensive, medical facilities. 

In general, medical aid schemes offer three kinds of plans:

1. Comprehensive: These plans cover all medical expenses, including routine visits to a health professional.

2. Network: A network plan is more affordable, but will mean that you can only make use of certain medical service providers which are part of the scheme’s network, which will require research on your part, to make sure that you can be reimbursed.

3. Hospital Plans: These plans generally cover only medical emergencies and planned hospital visits/procedures, and it’s advisable to take out an additional gap cover policy to make up for the potential shortfall between what your medical aid will cover and the actual cost.

Some professional industries offer their own medical aid packages, for example ProfMed for professionals with certain qualification criteria, GEMS for government employees and CAMAF for Chartered Accounts. Depending on what industry you work in, there may be a particular medical scheme that would work better for you, but this will be a matter of research and finding out what’s available to you specifically.

TOP HEALTHCARE PACKAGES:

While local packages might be more affordable, there are global health plan options for expats who move regularly, and travel frequently, some of the global programmes are run in conjunction with a local company:

BUPA Global Health Insurance

CIGNA Coverage in Africa

LOCAL OPTIONS

DISCOVERY: One of the most common local options is Discovery, which you’ll notice advertising for in many places as they offer a range of benefits, from discounts and rewards programmes at gyms, at the cinema and when purchasing flights online from certain airline companies. (Be aware that with many Discovery packages, you will only be able to make use of specific service providers so do your research before visiting a medical professional/facility to make sure that you will be reimbursed for your claim)

Other local options include:
BEST MED       
BONITAS    
FEDHEALTH       
MEDIHELP     
MOMENTUM

Great tool to use to compare options: Hippo

GENERAL TIPS ON MEDICAL AID

In many cases, be prepared to pay upfront and then claim back from your medical aid, or expect to do research on which specific doctor or hospital to use as some medical aids are very specific about which services they approve. When paying for anything, you’ll be asked if it will go on Medical Aid or Cash. If you plan on making a claim to your insurance provider for the expense, answer “cash”.

For intensive procedures, it’s advisable to get approval from your medical aid upfront, to avoid any unanticipated costs down the line, as claiming back from medical aid can be a lengthy process. Always be sure to get a detailed receipt.

NOTE: Dentists and orthodontics sometimes aren’t covered by medical aid.

GENERAL HEALTHCARE

General regular immunizations are: Hepatitis B, DTP, MMR, and Polio

You might also require a Yellow fever vaccination required when visiting certain African and South American countries. This is valid for 10 years, and you may need to show proof of vaccinations when entering South Africa from a yellow fever area, its a good idea to scan and save a copy for your records.

Some Diseases To Be Aware Of:

HIV/AIDS: Although massive strides have been made to prevent HIV infection, with the distribution of Antiretroviral medication and free testing, HIV/Aids is still an issue in all Sub-Saharan countries, and there is still a lot of social stigma around the disease that often complicates and delays treatment.

As always, preventing HIV infection and STDs means having protected sex and being responsible.

The topic of HIV/Aids will be something to consider, especially in the workplace and when dealing with staff, as HIV positive employees are not obliged to reveal their status by law. If you are employing staff on your property, odds are they will have HIV.  It is good practice to send any care givers on a first aid course which will cover HIV along with all the other conditions. Please note it is very hard to contract the disease- there has to be blood to blood exchange, or sexual activity. HIV treatment has come along way and now with the right medication and care you can carry on living a normal life. It is important as employers to support where we can if you notice a sudden weight loss, or frequent illness. Do seek out further help and advice if you have questions. At least supply healthy food and financial support for medication. For further information see: The Right To Care.

Other diseases to be aware of are tick-bite fever and malaria, which you can get when travelling to the bush, but being aware of high risk areas and taking the necessary precautions should prevent you from getting these.

MEDICATION

A “drug store” or pharmacy is called a chemist in South Africa, and there are individual pharmacists who run stores in some parts of the city, but these have largely been taken over by nationwide franchises over the last decade.

Here are the most popular ones, which also offer basic medical screenings and clinic facilities, and also sell food and homeware items:

Dischem
Clicks
MediRite

NOTE: In stores like Dischem you will obliged to put prescription medication into a cage-like contraption after you get it from the medications counter, and while you make your way to pay at the main checkout till. Once you register your family at a location, try to use that same place repeatedly!

EMERGENCIES

Be aware that if you don’t have medical aid, an ambulance will take you straight to a public hospital and might have to wait for treatment. Its a good idea to know which hospital you would like to be taken to, plus have thought through emergency plan if you are absent and your child gets sick (we have a list of emergency numbers on the fridge, and have a process whereby if there isn't anyone present who can drive, then press our security panic button which is linked to medical response team, these guys drive around the area and so will be quickest to arrive). 

Ambulance
ER24 084 124
Netcare 911 082 911
Hatzollah is a private not for profit organisation that services the Johannesburg Jewish community: 0860 100 101

Police/Fire
From home phone 10111
From mobile 112

National Poison Control
0861 555 777

FINDING A GOOD LOCAL DOCTOR

For routine medical checkups, visit a General Practitioner, or GP, as South Africans call it. It is a good idea to get set up with a GP when first arriving to introduce yourself and your family. Do your research online to find a doctor, or visit your nearest hospital or clinic. Your medical aid will also be able to give you a list of doctors and medical practitioners. 

If you have children, you will need to register them with a Paediatrician, and its also advisable to register with a gynaecologist.  

Ask for recommendations online on expat groups or a residental/neighborhood group. Some online medical resources include:

http://www.intercare.co.za/ 
https://www.recomed.co.za/

HOSPITALS

South Africa has a number of public hospitals, some which are world renowned and serve as training facilities for local medical students. Not all hospitals will have an emergency section, referred to as “casualty” by doctors.

For your own information, here are some of the most well-known public hospitals in Johannesburg:

Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (Soweto)
Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital (previously known as Johannesburg General Hospital or “Joburg Gen”)

The main private hospitals that majority of expats use are Sandton MediClinic and Life Fourways Hospital, or the Netcare Hospitals (Sunninghill, Waterfall, etc.)

Everything You Need To Know About South African Visas

You won’t live in Joburg for long before you hear a horror story involving visas. The laws change regularly, and sometimes require you returning to your home country for 6-8 to process. This information is correct at time of publishing, however you should contact your immigration agency if you have one, or email us directly (hello@translatingme.org) with any questions.

There are three ways to legally reside in South Africa:

1. As a visitor

2. As a temporary resident

3. As a permanent resident

4. With a work permit

   VISITOR VISAS

Visitor visas are valid in South Africa for 90 days, and many countries are exempt from having to apply for a visa in advance, although there have been many changes in the last year or two, so it’s best to double check with a South African embassy official in advance.

As an overall checklist, to visit South Africa you’ll need the following:

    •    A valid and acceptable passport or travel document for your intended stay that will not expire within three months
    •    At least two blank pages in your passport for endorsements
    •    A valid visa (If required from your country)
    •    Sufficient funds to pay for your day-to-day expenses during your stay
    •    A return or onward ticket
    •    Yellow fever certificates if your journey starts or passes through a yellow fever area in Africa or South America

NOTE: If you are traveling with minor children you will need to provide a certified unabridged birth certificate for each child, and if traveling without your spouse, you’ll also need to provide an certified affidavit from the missing parent. Click here to download a template affidavit form. 

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE VISAS

If you would like to stay for more than 90 days, you’ll need to apply for a temporary residence visa. 

One of the major changes to visa legislation over the past while is that you can’t apply for a temporary residence visa while in South Africa on a Visitors Visa. So, to stay legally in South Africa for longer than 90 days you’ll need to apply for this visa before you arrive in South Africa. (Though this has just been changed for visa exempt passport holders. Please check with your airline to confirm what you need!)

The list of temporary residence visas includes:

    •    Business visa
    •    Work permit/visa (the terms permit and visa are used interchangeably)
    •    Study visa
    •    Exchange visa
    •    Retired Person's' visa
    •    Relatives' visa
    •    Medical treatment visa

BUSINESS VISA

This is a visa for a foreign professional that wants to start their own business or would like to invest in a South African business. To qualify, you’ll need to invest R5 million into South Africa with funds that come from abroad.

Application Process for Business Visa

    1.    Submit an application for recommendation at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). This will be then be forwarded to the South African mission if the business is feasible and of national interest. You will be notified of this but won’t know if the recommendation was positive or negative.
    2.    The South African mission will then submit the notification in support of the business visa application, which will be approved or denied.

NOTE:
    •    A business visa can be extended from within South Africa.
    •    Annual conditions listed will need to be acted on annually if the visa is approved.
    •    A business visa holder can apply for permanent residence in South Africa at a VFS Centre immediately after the business visa is issued.

STUDY VISA

A study visa is required for any foreigner who would like to study in South Africa at any educational institution that is recognised by the Department of Education. If your child is attending a South African school they will need to have a Study Visa (from the year they turn 6 years). 

VALIDITY: The study visa will be issued in line with the course of study at the chosen institution. The maximum period of time is 8 years for primary school and 6 years for secondary school. 

MEDICAL AID: To qualify for a study visa the applicant will need to prove that they have adequate medical aid/insurance for the intended period of study and that this is recognised in South Africa. 

ACCEPTANCE OR ENROLLMENT LETTER: You’ll need to provide an acceptance letter or enrollment letter from the chosen institution to apply for a study visa.

NOTE: 
A study visa can be extended from within South Africa.
A study visa can be changed to a different visa from within South Africa if the study visa doesn’t have any conditions. 
It is possible to apply for South African permanent residence on a study visa but certain conditions apply.

PERMANENT RESIDENCE

To be a permanent resident in South Africa you can get one of two visas:

    •    A direct-residence permit: You can only apply for this once you have been a temporary resident for 5 years (please note IntraCompany visas do not qualify). 
    •    A residency-on-other-grounds-visa: this requires you to qualify for application. Read on to find out more.

A residency-on-other-grounds visa is more complicated, and communication around changes has unfortunately been unclear, but in general, you can only apply for this visa if: 

    •    have an offer for permanent work in South Africa, or
    •    have exceptional skills and qualifications
    •    plan to set up a business in South Africa
    •    qualify as refugee
    •    qualify as retired person
    •    are financially independent
    •    are relatives of a South African citizen/permanent resident

WORK PERMITS

If you are NOT a permanent resident, and you would like to work in South Africa, you will need to apply for a work permit. This includes the following three visa categories:

    •    Intra-company-transfer work permit
    •    General work permit
    •    Critical skills work permit

INTRA-COMPANY TRANSFER

If you are employed by an international company that operates in South Africa, or an affiliated company, for a minimum of 6 months, you can qualify for an intra-company transfer work visa.

• You can’t extend this visa

• You don’t qualify for permanent residence with this visa.

• An intra-company transfer work visa is only issued for a maximum of 4 years.

• A skills transfer plan is a very important support document when applying for an intra-company work visa, that needs to be implemented for each position at the company in South Africa

GENERAL WORK VISA

This visa applies to all applicants who don’t qualify for any critical skills, as listed in the Government Gazette. This will generally require you to have a sponsor who can support your application for employment.

APPLICATION PROCESS

    1.    Apply for a recommendation from the Department of Labour. The Department of Labour will then forward the recommendation to the South African mission (note that this can take a while). Processing at a South African mission can take between 10 to 60 working days.
    2.    One the applicant has been notified that the mission has received the recommendation, the applicant can then submit the application.

NOTE:
    •    You will not be granted a visa if there is a South African resident with the same qualifications and experience that can fill the position
    •    The application for a recommendation at the Department of Labour can take 2 - 6 months to be processed. The application can only be submitted once the notification from the Department of Labour is received
    •    A general work visa is issued for a period of 5 years or in line with the employment contract
    •    You can apply for permanent residence after a period of 5 years of continuous employment

ALTERNATIVE PROCESS

In the event that an applicant’s employer can provide a strong motivation, an application for a waiver from certain requirements can be submitted to the South African mission instead of the application for a recommendation at the Department of Labour. 

This application for a waiver will be processed by the Department of Home Affairs, which can take 3-6 months. The South African mission will be notified on the outcome of the waiver application, and your employer will be given notification of the finalisation of the application, which will be submitted by Home Affairs in support of the general visa application.

CRITICAL SKILLS VISA

You can qualify for this visa if you have one of the critical skills listed in the Government Gazette. Click HERE for full list. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

    1.    Apply for an evaluation certificate from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), which will evaluate the foreign qualification according to the standards in South Africa. The processing period at the South African Qualifications Authority is 15 working days, provided that the verification from the Educational Institution abroad can be done within the given timeframe. The verification from abroad can cause a very long delay. (Please note they often require a breakdown of your university degree scores)
    2.    Register at the relevant professional body recognised by SAQA. This will provide the necessary letter of confirmation from the relevant professional body that is recognised by SAQA or relevant Government Department. The processing period at the various professional bodies are between 10 - 60 working days.

NOTE:
    •    Critical skills work visas are issued for 5 years or in line with the employment contract
    •    You can extend this visa from within South Africa
    •    If you change your employer, you’ll need to submit an application at a VFS Centre in South Africa
    •    Once you have gained Critical skill visa you qualify to apply for permanent residence

FOR ALL VISA APPLICATIONS

You will need the following to apply for a visa/permit:

    •    Two recent passport photographs
    •    A passport valid for 6 months after you intend to leave South Africa*
    •    A medical report signed and stamped by a doctor to prove that you aren’t a medical risk
    •    A chest X-ray and report to prove that you do not have TB (not required for children or pregnant women)
    •    Your full birth certificate
    •    Police clearance certificates for applicants who are 18 years and older, from all countries where they have for more than one year (Applying for this in itself can take a while).  
    •    Completed application form
    •    Yellow fever certificate if you have been traveling or have passed through a high-risk area

NOTE:
    •    You will need to visit the South African mission or VFS in person to submit your application.
    •    You will need to pay the prescribed fee in the prescribed format when visiting the South African mission to submit the application.
    •    All supporting documentation must be in English or translated into English by a sworn translator.
    •    Supporting documentation is only valid for 6 months

APPLYING FOR A WORK VISA AS AN ACCOMPANYING SPOUSE ON A VALID WORK VISA: 

It is possible to apply for a work visa as an accompanying spouse on a valid work visa, provided that the spouse qualifies for a suitable work visa and that there is no condition on the accompanying spouse visa. For more information on various work options available to "accompanying spouses” go to TranslatingMe.org, Portable Careers for Expats Facebook Group, or join us at a meet-up near you!

GENERAL NOTES:
All personal documentation in support of an application should be available in South Africa at all times. This includes: 

    •    Qualifications
    •    academic transcripts
    •    unabridged marriage certificates
    •    unabridged birth certificates
    •    divorce decrees
    •    medical aid that is recognised in South Africa

VISA RENEWALS

Start the renewal process early!

You can renew your visa from within South Africa (apart from Intra-Company Transfer), but take note that you need to wait for the renewal to be granted before you leave the country otherwise you won’t be able to re-enter.  Check your passport expiration dates, and if you need to apply to transfer a valid permit to a new passport (Otherwise, the old passport with visas will need to be carried with you at all times along with the new one!)  

IF YOU ARE FLAGGED AS UNDESIRABLE AT THE PORT OF ENTRY

A visa only shows that you have gone through the necessary rigmarole to legally enter and stay in a country, it does not guarantee entry. If you are caught for whatever reason, try to avoid them stamping you as “undesirable” - its a lengthly process to reverse.  

You can apply to have an overstay uplifted electronically at the Department of Home Affairs office, but only with a strong motivation. The outcome will be received in an official electronic letter. If you have questions, please contact us!

The wonderful team at Immigration Boutique put together a great crib sheet outlining the various Visa options. Click Here to Download It. 

At any time, join Moving to South Africa Facebook Group to ask a question or get advice in this process!

Good luck to you and your family!

Setting Up Mobile Phones and Internet in South Africa

(Please note we do not have any paid affiliation or sponsorship deals with any of the accounts mentioned below - all comments are made from our personal experiences)

There are three main service providers, which all use the same telecommunications infrastructure (a legacy of a centralised communication network), and provide essentially the same kinds of contract options, but with some pros and cons:

Cell C: Affordable contracts but limited signal in some areas

MTN: There have been complaints of poor customer service in the past but MTN undoubtedly has the most expansive service network on the continent so with an MTN contract you’ll often get signal in area when others don't, which can be helpful if you intend on travelling to off the grid places.
Vodacom: The most established and accessible service provider (apart from in Bryanston area), you’ll find a branch in most shopping malls, and although there are still complaints around customer service, steps have been taken to improve this.

Similarly to setting up a bank account, to set up a cellphone contract you will need to provide  proof of identity and proof of address, to comply with RICA, the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act, which makes it compulsory for everyone in South Africa to register their cellphone number.

This can be a pain, but to reduce crime, needing to provide a permanent address has recently been introduced to make cheap phones and pay-as-you-go contracts more difficult for criminals to buy on the fly.

You can set up a contract at any franchise store around the country, provided you have the right documentation, but be aware that these stores can be busy, especially on weekends, and are often understaffed.

With rare exceptions, everyone in South Africa will have a mobile phone, but not everyone will have a smartphone, so keep in mind that communicating with some people will be largely via text, calls or Whatsapp. 

Be aware that to get onto a contract you will need to have a work permit that is valid for the full 24 month period. But once on a contract it is cheaper than pay as you go for data and calls.

The best way to get set up is to pick up a SIM card at the airport, (you then don't need to have proof of residence). One company that offers this service is: B4 I Travel https://b4i.travel/za/.   

Internet

If you want to get connected straight away, the fastest way to do this is to purchase a router through Vodacom and use their pay as you go service, this will enable you to get wi fi until you or your landlord set up the fibre or connection for you.

For more info click here: http://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/services/home-internet

Tip: Where possible try to get the wifi included in your rent, since often the contracts are 24 months, and hard to disconnect (particularly Telkom) 

Telkom is the national telecommunications provider, and is a company you will often hear South Africans complain about due to poor customer services (although this has also been challenged to improve with recent industry competition).

Fixed Phone Line

Telkom provides fixed line voice and ADSL services, but they only provide the line. Once you have secured a Telkom line (which can sometimes be a lengthy process), you’ll need to take out an additional service provider contract, although they will manage the line for you. 

If you are renting an apartment or house that has been lived in before you’ll often find that there is an existing Telkom line that just needs to be reactivated. In order to set up a Telkom line you will need to set up an appointment for a technician to activate/install the line.

While inconvenient, you will need to set aside a day to be at home, or arrange for someone to be there, as the technicians work on a rotation basis and won’t give you a definite time of arrival. They will also be leaving and coming back in order to check the line and how it corresponds with the central hub for your suburb/area so expect this to take at least an hour or two, depending on whether there is a problem or not.

You will be billed separately for the Telkom and the ISP accounts. You will receive all of the invoices via email.

The easiest way to pay your Telkom is by setting up a private beneficiary on your online banking profile and pay via EFT, otherwise you can pay in person at various physical locations, like Checkers and Pick n Pay stores, Telkom stores or at the Post Office. Easy Pay is another online payment option: https://new.easypay.co.za/ 

There is the option to set up a debit order for payment to your ISP, which you can set up through your online client profile (this is the case with Afrihost).
You will need to buy your own modem, although you can order this through your service provider for an extra fee. You will also need to do the setup yourself but if the Telkom line is working correctly this isn’t difficult at all.

Some options include:

Afrihost
Webafrica
MWEB

Some Reviews

https://mybroadband.co.za/news/adsl/174116-best-and-worst-adsl-isps-in-south-africa-3.html

https://mybroadband.co.za/news/adsl/172311-south-africas-adsl-isps-ranked-by-customer-service-levels.html 

NOTE: When dealing with Telkom, especially when logging a fault (when your internet doesn’t work), always get a reference number.

Fibre

In many areas of Joburg there are various companies setting up fibre-optic lines, which are contracted by suburb.

Check with your apartment complex manager or residents association to find out which fibre optic service providers are in your area, and to find out specifics about contracts. In the case of an apartment complex, there will be a central fibre connection point that all apartments will connect to.

The difference with fibre is that it is independent of Telkom infrastructure, so you can deal with the service provider directly instead of having to go through a third-party line provider.

Some Options:

WebAfrica
Fibrehood
Vumatel
Vox Telecom
Cool Ideas
Vodacom

TELEVISION

To own a television in South Africa, you will need to pay an annual TV licence fee, which gives you access to all of the free national channels: SABC 1, 2 and 3 and eTV.

Read more: http://www.tvlic.co.za/tvlic/index.php?lang=en

To be able to watch a more diverse variety of television shows you will need to subscribe to DSTV. Premium access currently costs R759 a month, with various other packages available depending on the channels you want to watch. Note that there will be an additional cost for the DSTV decoder.

Read more: http://www.dstv.com/topic/compare-packages-20150713?pos4_GetDstv_ComparePackages

While many South Africans will have a DSTV subscription, online subscriptions are also becoming more popular, like Netflix and Showman. Particularly when linked to your own VPN service. 

https://www.netflix.com/za/ 
https://www.showmax.com/eng/welcome/za

Voice Line

It’s not as common for households to have a fixed voice line anymore as everyone is contacted via mobile phone, but in the case that you want one for international calls, you will just need to follow the same contract setup process with Telkom as you would for an ADSL line- you’ll just be paying extra for voice line rental, and for calls.

How to Open a Bank Account in South Africa

Getting all of your finances sorted can be stressful when you’ve just moved to a new country, and in South Africa, there are a number of bureaucratic processes that you’ll need to go through to open a bank account which can be potentially frustrating and time consuming.

But no need to worry, we’ve got all the information you need, which will save you some time and hassle!

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

To initiate any kind of administrative process with an official institution in South Africa you will always need to provide proof of residence, whether you are a local or a foreigner.

This is because of the implementation of FICA, or the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, which requires everyone to provide proof of residence as part of reducing financial crime.

Another document you will always need to provide is proof of identification, which for South Africans is the green ID book or newly implemented ID card. As an expat, use your passport.

In some instances it is perfectly acceptable to provide a driver's license as proof of identification, for example, when checking in at the airport, but this isn’t the case when dealing with a bank.

As a foreigner, this means you will need to provide your passport and proof of residence when conducting any kind of transaction. Proof of residence can be a copy of a lease (entire lease or a letter from the guest house / hotel you are staying at) or a utilities bill sent to your address (which you probably won’t have yet).

Sadly many banks will not open a bank account for you unless you have a work permit. Also joint bank accounts also come with large amount of paperwork, and often require you explaining exactly what you expect from a joint account. It took me a good 6 months to get full access to my husbands account (which was meant to be a joint account) so I could pay for bills etc. 

Documents Needed

Proof of ID and permanent visa/work permit
Proof of residence
Starting deposit (can help with monthly fees)
3 months Statements from existing bank (not always required) 
Letter from employer confirming contract and monthly salary

For Spouses…

When your family signs up for a bank account, you will be able to get full privileges on the account, but you need to make sure it is set up for you to use online and on your mobile phone App. This way, you can manage accounts, pay for school fees, make your own EFTs, see balances, etc.

When going to the bank, be sure you have your original passport with visa and original proof of residence, and maybe even marriage certificate if you have one handy! Sometimes getting full access takes a while because you might not have the right documents. But don’t give up! As a Spouse, having access and knowledge of your accounts is important!

CHOOSING A BANK

In South Africa the three most popular banks expats use are: 

ABSA (which Barclays has just sold)
Investec
First National Bank (FNB) / RMB - Private bank

You will find most of these banks in any big shopping malls in Johannesburg, and ATM’s (Automatic Teller Machines) can be found in various locations in the city, at shopping malls, strip malls and petrol stations.

TIPS

Banks charge you a fee for holding an account here, they also often have number of additional fee's for services (such as drawing money out of ATMs). So make sure you are fully aware of all the fee's.  

When taking out cash - try to choose an ATM within a busy shop and be aware of your surrounding.

FNB App is the most user friendly in our opinion, plus it has a great rewards programme, giving you access to Slow Lounges at the airports amongst other benefits. Their personal banking operation however, isn't as good as Investec, who also operate a good global rewards programme.   

Most South Africans use Debit and Credit Cards to manage their transactions, although mobile apps - Zapper and Snap Scan are becoming increasingly popular. Especially at pop up markets and outdoor events. Don't be surprised if you are asked to sign for your purchase in addition to entering your pin. 

You will need to learn how to make an EFT (Electronics Fund Transfer) as lots of independent operators and contractors prefer to be paid this way. This can be done through your bank’s online portal or their App on your phone.

Be prepared to receive notifications after every transaction (often both you and your partner will get text messages or email alerts), this is great to pick up on any fraud, not so great for your partner to know how much you just spent shopping.......... ;)

The South African postal service is not 100% reliable at the moment, so rather opt to receive updates via email, although most banking communication is moving towards online communications anyway.

NOTE: Banks are notoriously busy at lunchtime and weekends so if you need to talk to a bank employee face to face, it’s best try and go in the morning during the when it’s inclined to be less busy. 

If you have your own local expert - they can assist you with completing all the necessary paperwork for you. If you would like a list of all paperwork and certification process for your chosen bank, then request your own personalised report here.  

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

South African banks are very strict about any money coming into and out of the country, so when receiving funds from abroad, it can be easier to use something like PayPal (which is currently only affiliated to First National Bank). You will however, pay a transaction fee and it is a bit of a process to set up the account and to make withdrawals or deposits.

When receiving a PayPal payment or a fund transfer from abroad you will always need to give a reason for the transaction before funds are allocated. There are a variety of options, just choose the most appropriate one. Your bank will charge a fee for any incoming or outgoing transaction so just be sure to check.

Making a FOREX payment can be done online on your online banking profile, but you will need a SWIFT/BIC code when making a foreign payment. You’ll also need to provide your bank’s SWIFT/BIC code when you’re going to be receiving funds into your account (it makes the process a lot quicker). 

The private banks are much better set up to receive foreign funds - but still prepare for it to take some time in getting cleared. 

You can not exchange Rand into a foreign currency unless you have an airline ticket

For more information for banking click here.