Just having spent 10 days in South Africa earlier this year (my third visit to the country) I feel that I know a *little* bit about the country.When not at Kruger National Park I stayed in a city called Sandton,a suburb of Johannesburg that's considered to be about the richest residential area in the country.Every building I saw there...commercial and residential...had guard gates,electrified fences,security cameras and big signs saying things like "armed response provided by XYZ Security Corporation".
Of course this doesn't *prove* much of anything but it certainly suggests a less than rosey future for the country.
We have some friends from Sweden who took an ex-pat gig there for two years. He was offered more time but declined. He echoed what you said. He said, "you don't leave your compound without armed security".
All that aside, he said beautiful place, excellent weather-they were put up in a nice house, pool, servants, etc (and I am sure plenty of money). Even all that couldn't hold them there.
So, they went back to Sweden--which is importing the same problems as fast as it can.