I remember reading a commentary piece in the NYTimes a few years back, by their (female) bureau chief in South Africa. She commented that many people didn’t take her seriously because she was female - she couldn’t get a credit card without her husbands signature, people would ignore her in favor of male subordinates who happened to be around, etc. Is it still like that? Can you get your own credit cards?
GilaB, most certainly you can. If women weren’t able to get their own credit cards, the South African economy would’ve crashed long ago. 
To be fair, though, and IANAL, but the woman in question probably omitted to provide some very pertinent background to her point view. It would depend on the nature of her marriage contract. If she was married in COP after 1984 she would indeed have had to obtain her husband’s “permission” to enter into a contract, but vice versa was also true, he would have had to obtain her permission as well if he intended to contract. Prior to 1984 the COP laws were indeed unfairly skewed in favour of the husband where the husband did not require the consent of the wife to enter into a contract.
If the couple had been married under an ANC, then neither party would require the consent of the other in order to enter into contracts.
Oops, TellMeI’mNotCrazy, apologies, this is your thread. It was very impolite of me to have answered the question.
Noo, no apologies necessary. You certainly provided more information than I could have. But in the most general sense, I haven’t encountered anything along those lines. Any problems I have had with doing anything - especially in the financial sense - stem from the fact that I’m not a citizen and don’t yet have my permanent residency. Not much one can do on just a spousal visa.
Forgot… Where in SA are you,** MC**? (If you don’t mind saying, that is)
Any inhibition with regard to women and money would be cultural rather than legal - many African cultures are very patriarchal, and easily I could forsee a family where the Father controls the pursestrings and his wife/daughters are not permitted credit cards. I have known of Muslim families in the Western Cape which operate on the same sort of lines - adult children (sometimes married) still living at home and paying their salaries into Dad’s bank account.
As a WAG, I would say that this is becomming less and less common, particularly as education becomes more accessible and equitable.
Grim
P.S. Mellivora - if you don’t stop talking about South African food, I shall have to hunt you down and beat you to death with a vuvuzela.
From what I saw of London, you should have at least some access to some South African staples there, no? I remember finding a shop somewhere close to Charing Cross, I think,where I could buy [names of foods I won’t mention for grimpixie’s sake] for fairly decent prices, and I know that there’s at least one good sized online store aimed at the SA expat there.
TellMeI’mNotCrazy, no problem with disclosing location. I’m just down the drag from you in Joburg. Well, Joburg as in “I work in Houghton and live in Randburg”.
grimpixie, I repent. With the threat of the vuvuzela I shall now refrain from any further food quips. Gawd, I cannot stand that thing. It’s just dissonant noise which grates away at my very soul. Aaaargh!!!
Howdy, neighbor.
(See? Fly all the way across the world, and you still have Dopers nearby. Now if we just had a few more, we could do a Dopefest.)
How do people dress there? I spent some time in Kenya years and years ago and was amused by what I called “headgear of Kenya.” Very creative, to say the least. I was also struck by how it looked like most people were wearing hand-me-downs. Very few people were wearing things that fit them.
Regarding the crime, do you feel confidence in the police? For me, that made the crime problem worse–I didn’t have cofidence in the police, who were openly corrupt.
Howdy-
I used to work for a SA private investment company (Citadel)…I’ve been down there about 4 times for around 3 weeks each time. I love SA!
I was absolutely stunned by the food down there…the quality was second to none, the variety was amazing, and the prices were incredible! A seafood platter at a linen-table restaurant with 2 mini-lobsters, oysters, tiger prawns, mussles, abalone and all the fixin’s for $20!!! And the wine…aaahhh…the wine. Bayerskloof(sp?) Pinotage became my favorite wine down there.
About the only thing that confused me gastronomically down there was they didn’t have ketchup at the hamburger places. Go figure.
Pretoria is a great location for travel too. I went to Oppikoppi and Pillangsberg wildlife refuge one weekend and then to the coast the following (St. MArie? Lucie? God I am bad with names).
Smuggle me up some biltong if you ever come to Europe…I’d kill for that stuff here. Do you own a proper biltong knife yet?
-Tcat
I wouldn’t say the dress is very unusual - some people do wear some ethnic clothing, but I’ve never really seen anything clothing wise that’s caught my attention.
I haven’t been here long enough to form my own opinion of the efficacy of the police here, but from everything I’ve heard, they’re not very confidence inspiring. I’m more comforted by the security measures in my building, as well as the fact that I’m on the 4th floor - not a very likely random target in my opinion.
Will do 
But nope, no biltong knife yet. I haven’t been brave enough to try my hand at making my own bilton. I’m sure I will before too long though.
TellMeI’mNotCrazy, howdy back at you, or as is custom, "howzit my china’. If I may intrude once more, the police question is close to my heart.
Brynda, your concerns are well founded. Generally speaking the public policing system is divided into two main forces called the South African Police Service and the Metropolitan Police Department. The Metro police are largely responsible for policing traffic and municipal bylaws, and the SAPS use their woo-woo lights to chase after more serious criminals, such as hi-jackers, car thieves, murderers and rapists, of which I’m sad to say there are many.
Corruption and bribery is a scourge in the Metro department, with a recent purge seeing the arrest of dozens of officers. I have not had the displeasure of being solicited for a bribe, but my SO has. Thankfully she kept her cool and refused to take the bait.
The SAPS has a thankless task, as for many reasons crime is rampant in this beautiful country. Public pressure and human rights groups continue to make their jobs more and more difficult. A recent example is boomed or gated suburbs. When done effectively these areas see a dramatic reduction in crime, and yet lobby groups insist that individuals’ rights to freedom of movement are being violated.
Within the ranks of the SAPS there are known bad apples, but there doesn’t seem to be such a stench as that emanating from Metro.
Do I have confidence in the SAPS? Yes and no. For serious crimes such as murder, rape etc I think we have some of the most efficient and dedicated investigators in the world. As for minor crimes such as housebreaking, theft of cellphones etc, I couldn’t even be bothered to report the incident. They are flooded with these, and I think that the pressure of heavy workloads prevent them from giving each and every case its required attention.