Louis Ludik wants to stay in Ireland after his rugby career ends – after revealing his fears of life back home in South Africa.
The Ulster back came to Belfast with wife Chamé in 2014, after seven years in Super Rugby and a year in France with Agen.
Now, with baby Leo, 4, part of a growing family, the couple are ready to settle in Belfast for good – with a South African-style sausage company ‘HellBent’ recently launched as they look to life after rugby.
Not long ago Belfast would have been far from a dream destination for families seeking a peaceful life, but as things improved for the better up north, South Africa had lurched in the opposite direction.
Two weeks after the Springboks won the World Cup last November, Chamé shared a video online that went viral in her homeland.
In the grainy security camera footage, a 56 year old woman was stopped at a crossroads and shot dead in her car, before the assailants drove off leaving her dead on the road.
“It’s no shock, really, no,” said Ludik. “That happens, probably every day. Somewhere. There’s so many murders, and things like that happening. It’s scary... it’s shocking to watch but it’s a reality.
“The scary thing is that’s the norm in South Africa. Because violence is everywhere, you get used to it.
“So when you step out of that environment, you realise how unnatural it actually is.”
There were 21,002 murders in South Africa between April 2018 and March 2019, an average of 58 each day – while the Troubles took just over 100 victims a year during that conflict.
The Ludiks may have left that violence far behind, its effects still linger.
“Even now, my wife is still a little scared to walk on her own, even if we go to the beach,” said Ludik.
“It’s in her head, you’re just so used to being scared, being wary.
“Everyone says ‘don’t walk outside on your own, be careful driving around, always be vigilant, if you’re stopped at traffic lights, look around you’.
“She’s been involved in a smash and grab a couple of times, my sister too, and my wife’s dad was hijacked when she was 15.
“She was in the house, and he was driving home. He stopped at the gates and they stopped them from closing and went in – with a gun – to take the car from him. She saw it from inside the house, and that leaves you with some PTSD.
“Fortunately nothing like that has happened to me, but my wife is adamant she wants to stay here because she feels safe.
“It’s such a small thing, but it’s so nice to be able to go home to your house and know you’re safe,” he said. “
You don’t have to worry. You get very comfortable – we don’t even lock our doors here sometimes!
“In South Africa you have to have gates, locks, you have to protect yourself. It’s so uncomfortable and that’s why so many people emigrate, they see how life can be elsewhere.”
