Thread: Crime In South Africa From A Tourist's Point Of View?

We all know that SA has a very high crime rate, especially in the bigger cities. When you visited did you encounter any problems? How long did you stay and in which cities?

I've visited South Africa on many occasions and I will keep going back. I always visit Jo'burg, Pretoria and Sun City. I've travelled through the townships for sight-seeing, but never spent a night there. I find the big cities to be just as unsafe as big cities in Europe and America. It's just that the people are different, but that doesn't mean that their crime is worse.

Crime is a universal thing. When you tour a place I'm led to believe that you're generally [if you have a tour guide] led around in the safer places which they know about. It's not like someone will mug you in broad day-light on a city street. All that negative stuff the media reports doesn't reflect exactly what's on the ground. Isolated cases can be blown out of proportion so when you hear that a place is not safe to visit [unless there's a terrorist-related threat] take it with a pinch of salt. Media reports can be biased. . .

I visited in 1999 and this was during a more volatile time that it is currently. I never felt out of place or unsafe. It was a beautiful country with beautiful people. Of course there's crime, but as Denis mentioned...it's universal. When I visited, there was a rash of problems with people pretending to be broken down on the road so they could rob you when you pulled over to help. I have no idea if this is still an issue. To be fair, it was something I had only heard of and not actually witnessed while there.

Originally Posted by Denis Hard

Crime is a universal thing. When you tour a place I'm led to believe that you're generally [if you have a tour guide] led around in the safer places which they know about. It's not like someone will mug you in broad day-light on a city street. All that negative stuff the media reports doesn't reflect exactly what's on the ground. Isolated cases can be blown out of proportion so when you hear that a place is not safe to visit [unless there's a terrorist-related threat] take it with a pinch of salt. Media reports can be biased. . .

I'm not actually getting my info from the media, more from a couple of South African friends. They describe the situation as quite bad, so I decided to ask in here what you guys saw from a tourists point of view since obviously that's very different to what the locals see and experience.

Like a lot of more crime-prone cities, it is best to check where it is and isn't safe. Don't walk alone at night, anywhere and lock your car doors and don't leave your bag on your seat next to you. The crime can be bad in some areas and worse in others. Generally, its a matter of being streetwise. Leave your expensive jewellery at home and wear the fun stuff and watch out with expensive cameras. Johannesburg is known to be the worst for crime, but Cape Town can also be pretty bad. Don't let this put you off though, South Africa is one of the best places you will ever see and the people are friendly and hospitable. Just be smart!

I've never been to south Africa but have heard that there are very high sexual assault rates. As with any major city it's important to be careful but I wonder if there is more security in tourists areas?

I agree with what you say. SA is 11th in the world for burglaries and UK where I live is 7th, according to United Nations Office on Crime and Drugs verified stats....

My neighbours on both sides here in London have been burgled in last two months, as has the family opposite three months ago. A man was murdered a few streets away in a burglary. Burglars are a problem all over the world sadly...


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