ProZ.com Translation Forums

Living as a freelancer in South Africa – yay or nay? | About life in South Africa... as the people who live there

Hermien Desaivre — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 09:46:00 +0000

Forum: Translation in South Africa
Topic: Living as a freelancer in South Africa – yay or nay?
Poster: Hermien Desaivre
Post title: About life in South Africa... as the people who live there

[quote]Balasubramaniam L. wrote:

Coming from a third world country (India), I can provide a few practical tips. Translation requires high-level technology - particularly a reliable high-speed connectivity to the internet, a reliable electricity supply and mobile phone connectivity. In developing countries, these are usually found only in major commercial centres or capital cities. So you can expect that you can't be translating while you are exploring the interior regions of a vast country like SA, unless you are well funded and can afford to carry along with you generators, satellite phones and the like.

Car seems irrelevant, for, the kind of highways required to enjoy the use of cars are available only in select regions of the world, least of all in SA. Also you can't be driving a car and translating at the same time! [/quote]

Gosh, with all due respect, perhaps you should do some research before you give information on a country you don't know. South Africa has highways (on which we drive all sorts of cars) all over the country, we have Internet (even fibre) and I have been making a living as a translator in a country village 2 hours outside Cape Town since you posted this comment in 2015. Prior to that, I lived in Cape Town itself and worked from there as a translator. We definitely have infrastructure issues due to government mismanagement, but we are not nearly the backward country you describe. I suggest you keep your advice limited to what you know. Do a bit of Googling...

Living as a freelancer in South Africa – yay or nay? | Would you really be left with any free time?

Balasubramaniam L. — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 03:27:00 +0000

Forum: Translation in South Africa
Topic: Living as a freelancer in South Africa – yay or nay?
Poster: Balasubramaniam L.
Post title: Would you really be left with any free time?

I have been freelancing for several years now, but my experience is that to make both ends meet I need to put in long hours before the computer, and even when I am not actually working, I need to be alert to client messages on my email id or to smses, constantly.

So, if your main idea is to enjoy life, translation may not be the right profession for you. Translation requires a lot of commitment, a lot of hard, unglamorous, unrecognized work, and it keeps you chained to the computer for most of the day.

Only those who genuinely like translation and don't mind the isolation involved in doing serious translation work make an enjoyable career out of it.

You don't seem to fit the bill (based on your post) as your real intention seems to be to enjoy a new location and explore a new territory and culture. This in itself will take up a lot of your time, leaving you little time for serious translation work.

But if you intend to use translation to get an entry into the new world you want to enter (using the dubious glamour associated with identifying yourself as a translator), well, go ahead. You have mentioned that you have other sources of income, so you probably won't starve if your translation doesn't yield any money.

Coming from a third world country (India), I can provide a few practical tips. Translation requires high-level technology - particularly a reliable high-speed connectivity to the internet, a reliable electricity supply and mobile phone connectivity. In developing countries, these are usually found only in major commercial centres or capital cities. So you can expect that you can't be translating while you are exploring the interior regions of a vast country like SA, unless you are well funded and can afford to carry along with you generators, satellite phones and the like.

Car seems irrelevant, for, the kind of highways required to enjoy the use of cars are available only in select regions of the world, least of all in SA. Also you can't be driving a car and translating at the same time!

Living as a freelancer in South Africa – yay or nay? | Free choice

Karin Purgaj — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 12:08:00 +0000

Forum: Translation in South Africa
Topic: Living as a freelancer in South Africa – yay or nay?
Poster: Karin Purgaj
Post title: Free choice

Hi Michal!
I should think your geographical space is of little concern as you can work as a translator anywhere.
Wanting to relocate to Cape Town is interesting with all the negativity surrounding our country, but then again, I do believe there is no crime or corruption free country left.
You may as well enjoy the great surroundings of Cape Town - I live in Johannesburg and personally much prefer the climate here.
Whatever you decide, I wish you the very best!
Karin

Living as a freelancer in South Africa – yay or nay? | Living as a freelancer in South Africa

Colane — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 20:33:00 +0000

Forum: Translation in South Africa
Topic: Living as a freelancer in South Africa – yay or nay?
Poster: Colane
Post title: Living as a freelancer in South Africa

Hi Michal

Wow, its nice to know that you have visited the Country several times and have also realized that there is lot of distortion and exaggerated stories about crime. Yes crime is everywhere in the world but one can still live comfortably. Especially been a freelancer who is buzy with projects all the time . I live in Cape Town and I am also a freelancer but I have put focus on my full-time job, but in future I would like to concentrate in Freelancing. With regards to tax you can visit [url removed]

Best regards
Olebile

Living as a freelancer in South Africa – yay or nay?

Michal Fabian — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 10:35:00 +0000

Forum: Translation in South Africa
Topic: Living as a freelancer in South Africa – yay or nay?
Poster: Michal Fabian

Hello everyone,

the forum on translation in SA seems pretty dead at the moment, but I thought I’d just throw this out there. Any responses, thoughts and remarks are greatly appreciated.

I’ve been playing with the thought of moving to South Africa for quite some time now. (Specifically, I have my eyes set on Cape Town). As a freelancer, it should be easier for me that it is for most people. The reasons? From my previous travels to SA, it seems to be a place where a lot is happening culturally, with a lot to explore and a favorable climate. To put it simply – plenty of stuff to keep me busy after hours! Also, this would let me stay in daily contact with Afrikaans, a language that has grown on me over the years. My current income would allow me to lead a comfortable lifestyle there. (For what it’s worth, I have already lived in Botswana for several months).

Am i just being stuck in my touristy pink-glasses bubble here? Or is freelancing in SA something you would recommend?

I wonder how an EU citizen goes about relocating his business to South Africa. Also, some safety concerns come to my mind, though we all know how the media love to distort the picture – my personal experience says that the horror stories of South African crime are usually greatly exaggerated. What about taxes? Also, any chance to be mobile without a car or is that an absolute must? (heck, I don’t even own a driver’s license).

Probably doesn’t sound like I have it all figured out. That’s why I’d like your opinions, to see whether moving to SA would be a good move and whether I should look into this seriously. Thank you in advance!

Who are the translators currently based in SA? | Love Proz, based in SA

Inge Luus — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 20:45:00 +0000

Forum: Translation in South Africa
Topic: Who are the translators currently based in SA?
Poster: Inge Luus
Post title: Love Proz, based in SA

If it weren't for Proz and its international focus, I would probably not be working.

I definitely don't fit into the category of translators based in SA mentioned by Samuel -

1.I like being paid in another currency (the exchange rate is good right now :), at other times, I just have to work harder),
2. I don't mind paying international bank transfer fees (its the cost of doing business, and I love doing business),
3. I use two CAT tools (OK, I'm not a fan of fuzzy matches, but what can you do),
4. Large attachments are no problem - YouSendIt is great for larger files and my mobile broadband connection is definitely not slow,
5. Long payment terms are no problem, esp. when you have reliable clients who pay on time - at least I know my rent is paid for the next month or two or three :).

So, I don't think the reasons mentioned by Samuel are insurmountable to a translator based in SA.

Language combinations might be a reason why SA translators may not have a large presence on Proz, as there may not be that much international demand for the SA language combinations.

Who are the translators currently based in SA? | Not really

Samuel Murray — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 11:49:00 +0000

Forum: Translation in South Africa
Topic: Who are the translators currently based in SA?
Poster: Samuel Murray
Post title: Not really

[quote]Sarai Pahla wrote:
In your opinion, do you find that translator portals are popular among the South African translators whom you know personally? [/quote]

No, international work is typically not popular among my local colleagues. The main reasons are:

1. They dislike being paid in another currency (they believe that the client should pay in the translator's currency and should make sure that the translator receives the amount on the invoice).
2. They dislike losing money from international bank transfer transaction fees (they believe the client should ensure that the translator ends up with the exact amount on the invoice).
3. They don't use CAT tools, and even if they do, they don't like fuzzy match schemes (or they don't understand it, which leads them to believe that the client is cheating them).
4. They can't send or receive large attachments (internet is expensive and slow in South Africa, and mailboxes hired from ISPs tend to be small).
5. They can't handle long payment terms.

A whole generation of South African translators were taught that unresolved issues must be returned to the client, and I suppose that works fine in South Africa, but you can't send incomplete translations to international clients, who don't speak the language in the first place and who don't have any other resources to solve problems that are returned by the translator.

And let's not forget that portals such as ProZ.com don't have much to offer for South African translators anyway.

Who are the translators currently based in SA? | Interesting question

Dr Sarai Pahla, MBChB — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 10:51:00 +0000

Forum: Translation in South Africa
Topic: Who are the translators currently based in SA?
Poster: Dr Sarai Pahla, MBChB
Post title: Interesting question

Hi Annabel,

[quote]Annabel Rautenbach wrote:
Do you think ProZ is furthering your carreer? Personally, joining ProZ was a turning point for me. I really did not have many clients when I decided to become a paying member. Since joining, there has been no looking back :) [/quote]

I definitely think it has changed the way I market myself, and I have been contacted by a number of reputable agencies with whom I have built good relationships. I absolutely love the access to the Kudoz forum, despite some obvious issues with it, and the ability to communicate with translators from around the world in the forums is great.

On the other hand, sometimes I feel like ProZ makes me a bit "lazy" for lack of a better word - I don't actively use any other translation portals and I probably should!

Glad to hear it made a big difference to you - I think it is a great platform for many reasons, even though a lot of other people have complaints about it.

Who are the translators currently based in SA? | Lost track of this post completely!

Dr Sarai Pahla, MBChB — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 10:47:00 +0000

Forum: Translation in South Africa
Topic: Who are the translators currently based in SA?
Poster: Dr Sarai Pahla, MBChB
Post title: Lost track of this post completely!

Hi Samuel,

[quote]Samuel Murray wrote:

According to ProZ.com's translator association pages, 94 members of ProZ.com (including 54 paying members) are members of SATI (South African Translators' Institute). A directory search for translators in South Africa with "SATI" as a keyword on their site yields 11 results (2 of whom are paying members). However, over 750 ProZ.com members claim to be from South Africa.
[/quote]

Interesting statistics, although I wonder how many are active on the site. In your opinion, do you find that translator portals are popular among the South African translators whom you know personally? I must admit, I really do not know very many, given my language combinations.

Who are the translators currently based in SA? | I can think of at least 7 or so that I know of...

Annabel Rautenbach — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 19:45:00 +0000

Forum: Translation in South Africa
Topic: Who are the translators currently based in SA?
Poster: Annabel Rautenbach
Post title: I can think of at least 7 or so that I know of...

I have actually worked and met quite a number of translators at ProZ who are definitely based in South Africa.
Do you think ProZ is furthering your carreer? Personally, joining ProZ was a turning point for me. I really did not have many clients when I decided to become a paying member. Since joining, there has been no looking back :)

Who are the translators currently based in SA? | Less than 100 SATI members are ProZians

Samuel Murray — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:09:00 +0000

Forum: Translation in South Africa
Topic: Who are the translators currently based in SA?
Poster: Samuel Murray
Post title: Less than 100 SATI members are ProZians

[quote]Sarai Pahla wrote:
Not sure how popular ProZ is among South African translators to be honest... [/quote]

According to ProZ.com's translator association pages, 94 members of ProZ.com (including 54 paying members) are members of SATI (South African Translators' Institute). A directory search for translators in South Africa with "SATI" as a keyword on their site yields 11 results (2 of whom are paying members). However, over 750 ProZ.com members claim to be from South Africa.

Who are the translators currently based in SA?

Dr Sarai Pahla, MBChB — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:52:00 +0000

Forum: Translation in South Africa
Topic: Who are the translators currently based in SA?
Poster: Dr Sarai Pahla, MBChB

This forum seems so empty and unused that I thought I would fire off a question - who is currently based in South Africa? Not sure how popular ProZ is among South African translators to be honest, being that many freelancers that I have spoken to in South Africa tend to take a more face-to-face approach to gaining clients...