Accommodation South Africa - Crime in South Africa

In European newspapers one can often read reports on crime in South Africa, where a depressing picture of the South African society is painted as a country teeming with murderers and a police force withdrawn in complacency. South Africans, on the other hand, particularly those promoting tourism, tend to paint too rosy a picture of a safe South Africa and play the crime topic down.

The truth is certainly somewhere between these two viewpoints.

Only a fool would tell you that the situation in South Africa is perfect. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is spiralling out of control, and no matter how many government initiatives there are to combat the obscene amount of crime, people are still meeting it on their doorsteps.

Despite all of this, South Africa remains a spectacular country to visit, and if you stick to crowded, 'safe' areas in the daylight and do not go walking around alone with conspicuous and expensive items on you, most people experience little or no problems with crime in South Africa..

Having said that, crime in South Africa seems to be an ever increasing problem for both residents and visitors to the nation. Most South Africans are shocked by the senseless violence which accompanies crtimes like burglaries, hijackings or theft in South Africa.

Certainly, South Africa has its hot spots of crime, especially Johannesburg, Soweto and the townships. However, there is an ever increasing wave of violent crime sweeping the world. This means that even countries like the UK has a problem battling crime.

According to government statistics, violent crimes such as murder and reported robberies have decreased in recent years. The rape and hijacking rates, however, showed no signs of such a slowdown. Hijackings and cash in transit heists particularly have been shown to be on the increase.

The situation with rape has become so bad that the country has been referred to as the 'rape capital of the world'.

Recently the government has had a widely-publicised gun amnesty programme to reduce the number of weapons in circulation. In addition, it adopted the National Crime Prevention Strategy in 1996, which aimed to prevent crime through reinforcing community structures and helping individuals back into work.

STATISTICS ON CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA

While South Africa's crime statistics for 2007/08 show a continuation of the steady decline in crime levels over the past five years, the level of crime in the country is still unacceptably high.

Releasing the crime stats in Pretoria on 30 June 2008 , the South African Police Service said there was a decrease in most "contact crimes" in 2007/08.

Decreases in eight contact crime categories resulted in an overall 6.4% decrease in contact crimes compared to the previous year.

Common assault dropped by 6.6%, common robbery by 9.5%, indecent assault by 2.1%, rape by 8.8%, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm by 4.6%, and attempted murder by 7.5%.

Murders have decreased by 4.7%, and robbery with aggravating circumstances was down by 7.4% compared to 2006/07.

House robberies increased by 13.5%, robberies at business premises rocketed by 47.4%, truck hijackings were up by 39.6% and car hijackings by 4.4%.

INVOLVEMENT OF FOREIGNERS IN CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA

It is widely believed that crime in South Africa is brought here by a number of people that are coming from all over the world and that most of the people that get arrested are coming from a number of countries in Africa. These people that are involved in drugs and organised crime.

HOTSPOTS FOR CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA

The crime figures are not completely exaggerated. For, Johannesburg residents in particular, they are a reality to be faced daily. Absolutely avoid the quarters of Hillbrow, Yeoville and Berea. Hillbrow is the Crime Capital of Johannesburg. It is filled with legal & illegal immigrants. There is alot of muggings , robberies , murders and prostitution that takes place there.

CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA AND TOURISM

The tourist is generally not affected by the high crime rate, if he acts reasonably and stays away from townships. The risk of falling victim to assault is not higher in a South African city than in other cities of the world.

Cape Town still a safe tourism destination while crime decreases in South Africa

Although crime in Cape Town does not affect tourists more than in other large cities or countries in the world as far as our experience goes with our many tourists visitors to Cape Town, we do however share some numbers that were released on crime in South Africa.

These decreases in crime are not for Cape Town specific but in general crime in the Western Cape is lower than in the rest of the country.

AWARENESS ABOUT CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA

Awareness is the key to a safe holiday. Do not act stupid. Do not tempt fate. Do not think because the KwazuluNatal coast looks like Southern California that it is. Do not think because Capetown is so clean and ordered, so cultural and sophisticated, that it is fine to whip your iPhone on your wrist as you stroll downtown in the sensual twilight.

If you hire a car do not have a picnic on the side of the freeway, or take an unscheduled diversion into the local township for the sake of authentic local color. All of these will get you into trouble.

South Africa is a fantastically well organized country and every travel contingency is provided for by some tour operator. From the Bazz Bus to the Blue Train, from wildlife safaris to whale watching and shark caging, there is nothing that cannot be done both safely and professionally.

So lock up your cash, keep your electronic equipment hidden, get and adhere to local advice from your lodge or hotel wherever you go. Most importantly, get on that plane and come to South Africa.

It is the best country in the world, and you will not regret it.

SAFETY TIPS TO AVOID BECOMING A STATISTIC OF CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA

Our basics advise on safety in South Africa is relatively similar to any other large cities or destinations in the world:

1. Do not act like a tourist and wear camera’s, survival pants and safari outfits in town.

2. Avoid back streets both during the day and obviously at night.

3. Do not walk alone through back streets in towns. Taxis are not too expensive, faster and safe.

4. Do not go into the more dangerous areas alone or as a tourist. If townships are not safe for residents, they’re not safe for tourists on their own either. Do not enter townships. If you would like to gain insight into the life in a township, join a guided tour and do not venture out on your own.

5. In the evenings don't go for walks through parks, dark parts of the inner cities or at beaches.

6. Never give a lift to a hitchhiker.

7. Keep your handbag closed when walking over market places or through shopping malls.

8. Do not leave valuables (or coins) visibly lying in your car.

9. Keep the windows of your car shut and the doors locked when driving through towns and stopping at traffic lights. This is particularly important in Johannesburg, where still many car hijackings occur.

10. Be on the alert if entering a petrol station late in the evening.

11. Do not stop, if suspicious persons at the roadside indicate that they need help. It might be a trap.

12. If possible, travel with a cellphone switched-on.

National Emergency Numbers:

10111 Police

10177 Ambulance

MAIN MENU:

_____________