Thanks guys for the advice, particularly the way out of PQD requirements.

I just changed my primary address to my SA address and sure enough the PQD requirement went away. Also not sure how but I have 14 qualifying segments already even though the only UA tickets/ planes I have been on since May of last year were purchased using miles.

UA tickets are so much more expensive than others, for example my flight back from US

UA ticket from IAD -> FRA -> JHB 1 way was close to 4K using Lufthansa planes
Same flight path on Lufthansa was 650

I hate United as an airline but their millage redemption is not bad so I may stick with them if I can.