The factors driving the native Africans (Bantu) from the country to the cities are in line with Marica's comments. A similar process is at work in Egypt where improverished farmers from Upper Egypt are flocking to Cairo. I can tell you from first hand observation that there are about 2-3 times as many people living in Cairo as the city can comfortable support.

White flight from South Africa is due mainly to crime. The good news about living in Johannesburg is one can buy a huge mansion with a swimming pool, large backyard with a garden, servants quarters, etc. for a song (costs about the same as for a two bedroom condo in the Bay Area). Unfortunately included with the deal is a 12 ft. high brick wall surrounding the entire parameter that is topped with electrified razor wire (yes, electrified). Typically one has a large motor driven gate that is remotely controlled and a burgalar alarm linked to a private security police (the public South African Police is corrupt and useless).

What made my brother-in-law decide it was time to leave was when his wife was followed home by a thief. His wife stopped her car in front of the electric gate which slowly opened to allow her car to enter. The thief armed with a pistol slipped in behind the car as the door closed thus trapping her with the thief. Standard operating procedure at this point is for the thief to rape his female victim, execute her and then take any high value property (jewelry, etc.). My brother-in-law's wife missed out on the being raped and executed bit because she had two small children with her (the thief was not a total psychopath). This sort of thing happens everyday is Johannesburg. Like car jackings (they stop the car, execute the driver and then drive off) is so common that it does not make the news. Every single person that my wife knows in South Africa has been mugged or had their house broken into. My in-laws have had their house broken into several times and several attempts made to steal their cars. I should add that this sort of thing is not unique to South Africa. I have a coworker (another aerospace engineer) who's father lived in Cameroon. His father was captured by thieves, tortured to reveal information about bank accounts and then executed. My coworker had an eventful time later when he went to Cameroon to bury his father and wind up his affairs (he carried a gun and had a body guard). Unfortunately for him, most of his late father's former assets are in real estate. Cameroon has currency export laws that are essentially extortion. It is imppossible to liquidate assets and get the money out of the country. I suggested the old South African trick of hiding gold coins in the frame of a car and then driving out. However the problem with that plan is staying alive during the time between selling the real estate and driving out in the car.

Life in Africa is "interesting".

Gary