South Africa / Safety
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In the 1980’s and ‘90s Johannesburg was frequently dubbed the most dangerous city in the world, although crime rates are declining there today. Despite the statistics, much of the serious, violent crime is gang-based and occurs in areas that tourists are unlikely to visit (Mitchells Plain in Cape Town’s township, the inner-city ghettos such as Hillbrow in Johannesburg or Point Road in Durban). Dangers facing tourists are on the whole limited to traditional mugging and, on occasion, car jacking. In South Africa, guns are widely available and you should be aware that the assailant may well be armed and any form of resistance could be fatal.
Nevertheless, visitors do not have to worry about their safety outside the inner cities any more than they would in any foreign country. Most important is not to walk about any urban centres at night and to avoid driving after dark. If you are going to be travelling alone in a car, it’s a good idea to bring (or hire) a mobile phone.
Problem areas
City Centres
Generally city centres are safe during daylight hours, although it is wise to listen to advice from locals about which areas to avoid. The safest way to travel around cities at night is to take a taxi directly to and from your destination.
Johannesburg has a bad reputation among travellers. The city centre, Hillbrow, and Yoeville have the worst reputation and the crime rate remains high. There are few facilities or accommodation options in these areas, so it is recommended to avoid them altogether and visit the sights only on an organized tour. Travellers arriving at the Park City Transit Centre in Johannesburg should not walk into town. It is recommended to take a taxi directly to the hotel. The crime rate in Johannesburg’s suburbs, where most of the hotels, hostels, nightlife, and shops are located, has improved greatly in recent years and you should experience few problems in these areas. The crime rates in Durban city centre have increased in recent years. But in Cape Town closed-circuit cameras and private security guards have made the centre as safe as any European cities, but after dark the likelihood of being mugged increases sharply.
Townships
It isn’t wise to wander into a township by yourself. On the other hand, if you know a local or have friends living and working in South Africa who know their way around, a trip to a township market or nightclub can be an exceptional experience. An alternative is to go on a township tour which will undoubtedly give you a different picture of the way a very large number of urban South Africans live.
Carjacking
Carjacking remains a problem in South Africa’s cities, although the number of incidents is constantly declining. The favoured location for carjacking is at red traffic lights on a junction. It is a good idea to travel with the windows closed and the doors locked. When faced with a suspicious situation at a junction, it is general practice to jump the lights and get way as fast as possible. Again, it is important to remember that carjackers are almost always armed and use their weapon when faced with resistance. Note that insurance on hire cars in South Africa is correspondingly high.
Based on:
- Lonely Planet: South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland (2006)
- Footprint: South Africa (2006)
