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Living

The following sites provide only some selected information and have no claim to be exhaustive. The accommodation section is aimed at prospective students at the University of Stellenbosch. For detailed information about travelling, history, and sights in South Africa, I would recommend reading some travel guides or visiting websites about South Africa. However, you'll find thousands of tips and "dos and don'ts" and places of interest in such guides - I try to give some pieces of advice and point out some places of interest near Stellenbosch and Cape Town. If you have any questions related to living and travelling in South Africa, do not hesitate to post your inquiry in the forum or use the contact form. The following topics are:

<top> car and driving

For driving you need an international driver's license. South Africans drive on the "wrong side" of the road (left-hand traffic) and you'll need some time to get used to it. Traffic lights are called “robots” and they have “four-way stops” (the driver who reaches the intersection first, is allowed to drive first. Like in many other countries in the world, it is a crime to drink and drive, but 2 Castle Lagers are okay ;)

Car

In South Africa and especially in Stellenbosch, it is essential to have a car in order to be able to explore the country! For a weekend you can rent a car from the well-known companies like AVIS, Europcar or Hertz.
For students at Stellenbosch there is a company which offers “Rent a Benz”, that means you can rent a Mercedes for a certain period (i think at least 3 months) at R2000 to R2500 per month.
But I think the best way is to buy a car and sell it after your stay. Car advertisements can be found at “Cape Ads” a newspaper which is issued every Friday. We (my girlfriend and I) bought a reliable white VW Citigolf. Used cars are quite worthwhile and perhaps you can sell the car for the same price as you bought it! Regarding the high rate of car theft and hi-jacking you should look for appropriate security systems. Our car has an immobiliser, anti-hi-jack device and gear lock. Furthermore you must register the car and pass a roadworthiness test (available at the traffic department in Stellenbosch).

Insurance

I spent a lot of time finding an appropriate insurance company. Some do not insure international students, others are too expensive or have high entrance fees. Finally I chose a comprehensive insurance from Outsurance for R235 per month. Just phone in and give your details - that's all. Outsurance requires a level4 immobiliser and anti-hi-jack device - if not already installed you can go to a garage and get this equipment for about R1500.

Parking Attendants

At public parking sites you'll find self-appointed parking attendants. They assist you with parking and feed the meter. You should give them a tip, usually about R2 to R5. That is one way to support poor people in SA.

<top> public transport

In a nutshell: Avoid public transport! Taxis are quite expensive, a trip with a so-called “minibus-taxi” can be dangerous because these drivers are kamikaze :) Going by train is dangerous especially at night- if inevitable you should buy a first class ticket.

<top> money

ATMs can be found everywhere but you should be careful (see safety instructions at orientation). You can buy everything by credit card: at restaurants, at shops even at the supermarket. Only petrol stations require cash. However, check carefully what you sign and keep an eye on the waiter or shop assistant when you give over your credit card. Besides you should follow all the security instructions given by your bank or credit card company.

<top> telecommunication

The cheapest way is to use public phones. Most require a phone card which is available at Telkom shops.
It is also relatively cheap to use cell phones (but not for international calls!). Operators do not enter into a contract with international students and therefore you have to buy a pre-paid SIM card. There exist three operators MTN, Vodacom and Cell-C. Most of the cell phones have a SIM-lock but they will remove it in South Africa for about R100 (€12). The international access code for calling from South Africa is “09” e.g. Germany 0949. Many thiefs look for cell phones and therefore be cautious.

<top> street children and beggars

Despite the end of Apartheid and the first democratic elections in 1994, there still exists a lot of social inequality and unequal distribution of income in South Africa. One third of the population (4 million whites and 11 million non-whites) live at European standards. One third (0.5 million whites and 14.5 non-whites) is rather poor but have jobs to support their families. The last third of the population (all non whites) are desperately impoverished. 42% of the labour force is unemployed. Thus, you'll see a lot of poor people especially street children who are begging for money (not on the campus because it is “cleaned” as part of PR). Of course, it is your decision how to deal with this situation. But you should not give them money (you don't know who forces the children to beg for money!). You should rather buy them something to eat.

<top> related links

information and travelling: southafrica.net
information and travelling (2): southafrica.org
car rental: AVIS Stellenbosch
website: Cape Ads
car insurance: Outsurance
international area codes and call charges: Telkom
mobile operators (1): Vodacom
mobile operators (2): MTN
mobile operators (3): Cell C

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