Western Cape

How safe is it in the Western Cape, in South Africa?

My mum is soon to be moving from england to the Western Cape. She is 53 and is moving with her partner and he is around 30 and is south african, he has persuaded her to move. She is looking at a small holding or a farm. But i’ve heard about these farm murders. Is this a good move for her, and how likely do you think it is, that he is going to try and get the money once over there?

Lots of British and European people buy farms and smallholdings in the Western Cape. I’ve been living in Stellenbosch (a wine farming town) this year, and half the farmers and B&B operators seem to be from Europe. It is probably the safest area of SA (apart from certain urban areas where there are problems with gangs) and I really don’t think you need to worry about farm murders. As in any city, it is a bad idea to walk around alone at night or in deserted areas. But W Cape is beautiful, relaxed and a lovely place to retire to.

As to whether her partner will try and run off with her money, I have no idea. All countries have scam artists, and SA is no exception. But if they have been together for a long time, it’s unlikely. They can still maintain separate bank accounts, and there is no reason for him to know her ATM PIN or internet banking passwords. She should also be sure to buy through a registered estate agent (eg Aida, Seeff, Fine&Country, Rawson, etc). In the end, it’s her decision whether to trust him or not. But if you’re worried, you could do a background check: find out his ID number, call the SA police (my local one is +27 21 809 5003)and find out whether he has a criminal record.

South Africa, Western Cape, Cape Town Tourism