South Africa is a beautiful, modern and very interesting country. However, it is also the most dangerous of African countries. The crime rate here is one of the highest in the world. For historical reasons, the attitude of the indigenous population towards “white” Europeans in South Africa is negative. Plus – the poverty of local residents, which, as is known, always contributes to an increase in the number of crimes.
Experienced tourists who have visited South Africa share their tips on the Internet, from which we have compiled a guide for foreigners. By following these rules, you can minimize the risk and enjoy your vacation in a picturesque exotic country.
Dress more simply
South African cities are not a place where you should show off your fashionable clothes and show off your expensive things to passersby. The risk of becoming a victim of crime is much higher if you look wealthy to a robber. Tourists are advised to dress as simply as possible: worn jeans, an old T-shirt, worn-out sandals, a simple bag or backpack. “There’s nothing to take from such a wretch,” a potential criminal will decide.
It is better for women to dress in the least feminine way for a walk – so as not to attract the attention of a potential rapist (this type of crime is very common in South Africa).
When taking pictures of local attractions, use your phone’s camera, abandoning the “SLR” (a passerby may fly up while you’re taking pictures and take away your expensive camera). Try to carry all valuables and documents not in your pocket or on your back, but in front, within your sight.
Since the risk of being robbed or robbed is quite high in South Africa, always take with you only as much money as you intend to spend on one trip outside. If you have a bank card, it is also advisable to have a small amount on it (keep the rest on another card that you leave in the room).
Choose a safe route
Try to walk only in safe areas. For example, in Johannesburg, some central parts of the city are “occupied” by local gangs who are racist towards the “white” population, and local Europeans were even forced to move to the northern suburb of Sandton. The areas of Kettlehong, Soweto, Alexandria and Hillbrow are considered dangerous. And in the capital of South Africa, Cape Town, it is dangerous for foreigners to go to the areas of Cape Flats, Kailich, Manenberg, Mitchells Plain, Delphi, Guguleta.
Usually in large cities (excluding Johannesburg) it is relatively safe in the center or within hotels and areas where foreigners live. It is advisable to walk in crowded tourist areas where there are a lot of police. At the same time, it is worth moving away from such a safe spot even a hundred meters (literally turning the corner) – and you can already get into a criminal quarter, where complete lawlessness reigns.
No matter what neighborhood you are in, try not to walk the streets after dark. This is the favorite time for robbers and pickpockets. They especially prey on drunk bar patrons.
During the day, be confident on the street and don’t hesitate. Walk quickly – as if you are a local and do this every day. If you stop, start looking at your phone, looking at a map or typing something into Google Translate, or just start looking around, trying to figure out where to go, passersby will immediately sense your insecurity. This will be a reason to try to rob you or approach you and start making money.
In any case, always travel not alone, but in a company. And preferably accompanied by a local resident.
Be careful with ATMs
You should only withdraw money inside bank branches. Doing so at a separate ATM on the street is extremely dangerous. If someone approaches you and “kindly” offers to help you figure out how the ATM works, politely but firmly refuse: you may be scammed or robbed. But even withdrawing money yourself in such places is not worth it: there is a chance that a passerby will run up to you and grab your wallet or point a knife at you, demanding that you give him the money you just withdrew.
And especially you should not try to exchange currency from your hands: in this case you will either be robbed or deceived by being given counterfeit banknotes.
If you withdraw money in a closed bank, make sure that there is at least two armed guards there.
Be careful with beggars and policemen.
The Christian rule “give to the beggar” in South Africa, unfortunately, will have to be forgotten. The fact is that street beggars here are very intrusive and even aggressive. It is worth giving a couple of coins to one person – and in a second twenty beggars will run up to you. It will be very difficult to fight them off.
If you are asked for money, go ahead decisively, without explaining anything, but at the same time without showing rudeness, so as not to provoke aggression. In extreme cases, you can give the beggar some fruit (if you are dealing with an adult) or a candy (if it is a child). In this way, you will both show mercy and show that there is no reason to ask for money from you.
Also, do not start conversations with police officers and do not trust people in police uniforms until the law enforcement officer shows you their official ID.
In South Africa, there have been cases where criminals, dressed in police uniforms, have used various pretexts (from collecting fines for fictitious violations to offering help with exchanging money or planning a route) to extort cash from unsuspecting tourists.
Transportation is a separate risk
If you need to take a taxi, don’t hail one on the road or respond to a passing driver’s offer to give you a lift, but order a car from the hotel reception or use special taxi services. Otherwise, at best, you may be ripped off for your money, charged exorbitantly for the trip, or at worst, taken to a deserted place and robbed, raped, or even killed.
Sometimes a tourist has to rent a car, but if you are traveling by car in South Africa, be vigilant. When leaving the car, even for a minute, never leave the doors and windows open. At the same time, when raising the window, make a tiny gap. In this case, the criminal will not be able to break the glass on the first try and time will be on your side.
If someone asks you to stop and get out of your car for any reason, close the windows tightly and continue driving, or if you are parked, drive away immediately. Otherwise, you risk becoming a victim of robbery or carjacking.
Another tip: when waiting at a traffic light for the green signal, don’t stand too close to the car in front. Robbers with knives can fly up to you, and if you don’t stand too close, you can quickly accelerate around the car in front and hide.
If you have to travel by bus, try to use only well-known transport companies and, if possible, avoid evening and night flights. In reputable carriers, the soldier has a partner who monitors order in the cabin and counts after each stop whether all passengers are in place. Yes, robberies on public transport are very common in South Africa. Sometimes criminals even deliberately turn off the power to the trains in order to conduct an armed raid on passengers.
Now for the sad part. If someone threatens you with a weapon and tries to rob you, do not try to resist. Even simply “negotiating” with the criminal will not work: this will most likely anger or frighten him, forcing him to use violence against you.
In South Africa, armed robbers often prefer to simply kill their victims in order to then empty their backpacks and pockets, and if they don’t kill you outright, but are just trying to scare you, then you are lucky and have every chance of staying alive.
In South African megacities, anything can await you. Unless, of course, you step outside the boundaries of a hotel or a guarded residential complex.
Women’s and men’s risks
If European women in South Africa are at risk of being raped by locals, then male tourists also face “sexual” risks. It often happens that in pursuit of new experiences a foreigner decides to meet an African woman and invite her on a date or even to his room. Doing so is extremely dangerous. In South Africa, a very common story is when an African-American woman, pretending to be in love with a tourist and visiting his room, then begins to blackmail and threaten him. They say that if he does not pay her a large sum, she will report him to the police that he raped her.
In South African megacities, anything can await you. Unless, of course, you step outside the boundaries of a hotel or a guarded residential complex.
Be more careful in drinking establishments
When it comes to cafes and bars, in South Africa you can only eat at trusted establishments. Otherwise, they may well mix you with sleeping pills or poison, taking advantage of your poor condition to rob you.
But even in a “decent” bar, you should never leave your filled glass unattended on the table or counter, otherwise someone else might pour something into it. This warning is especially relevant for women, who often become victims of rape after such trips to the bar.
The best way to stay safe at a bar is to order only bottled or canned drinks. And of course, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your wallet and cell phone. Pickpockets are always on the prowl.