I
was mentally preparing my next post, which was going to be about how conditions have dramatically improved in downtown Jhb, and Braamfontein - how clean these areas are, how they're showing signs of revival and turning into potentially thriving centres of business and pavement cafe social activity... but, typically, that's all become a bit soured now, and what I'm rather going to talk about is this...
One of my clients, a very forward thinking person who gave up his lucrative career in London and came back to SA to try and make a difference in the local internet industry and make a contribution to SA in general, has recently rented office space in downtown Jhb, both because he enjoys the sense of renewal and because it's his way of putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to being positive about Jhb and SA. The building, Corner House (corner of Commissioner and Simmonds) is being restored by a property development company that is going out of their way to ensure that they create the best conditions possible to attract businesses back into the centre of town, as part of their positive contribution to Jhb and SA.
We've been enjoying the sense of revitalisation that we're seeing in the city, and it's become quite a pleasure driving in every morning (I spend half days in his office). I've even toyed with the idea of taking an office next door to him to run my own freelance business from.
Until this morning, when we arrived back from getting coffee at the Ninos in Fox Street to find that the office has been broken into and his laptop stolen - of course containing most of his business. (Now we can have a separate discussion about the need to back up your work, but that's not the point right now.)
The point is that, once again, no matter how much positive attitude and action one takes in one's own small way, the stark reality of this place is ultimately that, you know what, at the end of the day the rot runs so deep that it's really just too little too late.
I'm trying not to get too angry or self-righteous about this, but it's really just another sign - I don't need this shit in my life and I'm now even more determined to go and live in a civilised country. OF COURSE theft happens everywhere, OF COURSE there is crime everywhere - I'm not naive. But it's an odds game. In poker, if the odds are too high, you fold. If you continue to play against the percentages and you don't get incredibly lucky, you lose your money. No-one in their right mind would argue against that.
In SA, we're so clearly on the wrong side of the percentages, so all I'm after is to live in the place where the odds are more on my side. So AGAIN I'm not saying that anywhere is perfect - I'm just looking for something a bit better. It's a no-brainer, really.
It's been very interesting getting responses to my decision to leave from people in SA vs people outside the country.
Almost all the people in SA are cautioning me against making rash decisions, and arguing that things are actually not so bad here, that I'm too negative (that's a favourite), that I'm employing black and white thinking etc, but if I really feel this way, then of course I need to leave. (The sub text being that the problem lies with me, not with this country). Of course there are exceptions, I'm generalising here, so don't take it personally if the shoe doesn't fit, lol :)
EVERY single person that I correspond with outside SA, be they ex South Africans or not, is saying things like - "Hello, what took you so long / of course things are better here / we're so glad you've woken up".
That in itself speaks volumes to me.
