"My Life in The Republic of South Africa. " a South Africa Travel Page by afrette

I lived for many years in The Republic of South Africa - from the early 80's to the late 90's. I am proud to have taken part in that first, historic fully democratic general election held in that wonderful country in 1994. The heady atmosphere of those election days surpassed all expectations as all races queued good-naturedly together for hours to place their votes. Any remaining old enmities ended as all castes and creeds laughed and joked under the harsh African sun.
I had Permanent Resident status by that time and so,I, like many others, was qualified to vote for the very first time.
South Africa is a glorious - if also a very feisty - country. I very much doubt that my limited abilities can do it justice, but I will try!
Later this year, I plan to revisit for the first time in over a decade. I am looking forward to seeing the changes and developments that have taken place since those days of so much promise for so many, of a new and brighter future following the long years of Apartheid.
I hope to record my findings on a new VT page upon my return.

Our first three months in South Africa were happy, if somewhat fraught! Like many immigrants, we stayed in a flat in Hillbrow, Johannesburg whilst my (then) husband searched for work. We had arrived in the Republic on the promise of a job for Martin which turned out not to exist. We lived on our savings which had become frighteningly diminished by the time Martin was offered a position with a company in Pinetown, Natal, We took up residence in a rented home and then began one of the unhappiest years of my life. The house was in the nearby town of Westville, in an area where everyone apparently worked during the day.. I was incarcerated at home with my 3 yr old daughter and had only my maid, Albertina, for company. She was a bright and happy lady, however, and probably saved my sanity!
The garden was seemingly full of snakes which added to my problems.My two beloved dogs had died - of different causes - during our move to South Africa from Malawi - and we were extremely poor! I was indeed miserable and for the only time in my life, lost wieght, without dieting, through sheer misery!(See photo).
The only car we had was a company car which Martin had to use to go to and from work. I spent most of my time morosely painting Malawian scenes! I used to enjoy birdwatching through my binoculars, however, but even this modest occupation took a sinister turn one afternoon. I heard a blood-curdling screaming coming from the other side of the valley behind our house, and when I trained my binoculars in its direction, witnessed one Zulu gentleman (?) frenziedly knifing another - until the victim became silent and lay in a crumpled, bloody heap, presumably dead! The assailant then moved off down the hill and deposited his knife - glinting in the sunlight - in some long grass under a tree. I reported the matter by phone to the police, who did not seem in the least interested! My elder daughter, Grania, was staying with us at the time and when I phoned her at work to tell her what had happened, she retorted I had probably been imagining things! When she and Martin passed by after work that evening, they found that whole area cordoned off by police.She changed her mind and apologised to me! I telephoned the police again and they still seemed quite uninterested! Indeed, it was 6 weeks before they finally contacted me - with the same results - apparently, no interest!
After a few months, a new house was built next to ours and a young South African policeman and his delightful wife moved in. We had a great deal in common - especially our sense of humour - and my life was transformed.
The weather in the Natal summer was extremely warm and humid. It also rained a good deal, which was a relief as we had arrived during a drought and use of water in domestic households was severely and inconveniently rationed.
Able to get out and about more with my new friend and her baby, a whole new South Africa revealed itself and I soon developed a deep love of the country and ALL its people.

After about 1 yr. we began to buy our own house. My father in the UK had sold some land and sent me some money which fortuitously provided the deposit. Our new home was situated in a charming little outback village known as Crestholme. Here we lived for seven happy years. I was forunate enough to have another very good friend in my NEW neighbour, also an Englishwoman. She and I discovered that we were quite entrepreneurial. I painted - and she sold! I painted literally ANYTHING - portraits, animals, flowers - in waters,acrylics, oils or pencils - on ANYTHING, including clothes! We were soon earning very nicely and I was able to fund the consruction of a swimming pool in our garden.
Crestholme was situated near a slightly larger village called Waterfall and this was near Hillcrest, a small nearby town.There were several supermarkets within easy reach and a hairdressing salon etc. Louise at first attended a nursery school which had recently been opened in our street. Later, she attended Forest View Primary School where she received an excellent education which has stood her in good stead up until this day. Other race groups - notably the black population - were not so fortunate, howeve, in those days.
We had ONE tragedy in Crestholme - our little daughter, Deborah Mary, was born 3 months early and sadly died within hours of her birth. Her 21st birthday passed recently, 11th March this year. Before this sad event, I had been blessed enough to have become a Born-again Christian and my new Faith and prayers - and those of other Christians - got me through.The Church folk were wonderful, taking it in turns to cook and deliver our meals for us every day until I was recovered.
About half way through our years in Crestholme,we actually became prosperous enough to make extended visits to the Natal Game Parks. We had previously only managed occasional lightning trips snatched during some of Martin's work travels. Now, we could stay for up to 10 days at a time depending on the availability of time and money!
These wonderfully memorable and often spectacular trips have provided me with years of inspiration for my art, of course.
I understand that the accommodation and facilities in these parks have been much updated since those days. However, we enjoyed visits in delightful, if somewhat quaintly out-dated, conditions and had some truly memorable times and experiences with wild animals which I shall record elsewhere in these pages.
I hope to report on the up-to-date facilities after my next South African visit later this year.