THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY:
Public Disturbances and Strikes: Organized or wildcat labor actions and protests in poorer communities against shortfalls in public services occur regularly throughout South Africa. While localized and normally well away from typical tourist destinations, these disturbances can develop quickly and unpredictably, and they sometimes turn violent. Use caution and steer clear of any area where protests, demonstrations or other public disturbances are taking place. During strikes by public workers, access to government offices and public hospitals and schools may be difficult due to pickets, and should be avoided if possible. For medical care, use private facilities/services that are not impacted by public-service strikes.
Public Transportation: In recent months, South Africa has seen a number of public transportation accidents involving trains, buses and minibus taxis that resulted in death or serious injury. Often the safety standards on public transportation systems in South Africa are not on par with what travelers would expect in the United States. We recommend you use individual metered taxis from established taxi companies and tour buses wherever possible.*
Visitors to the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria and U.S. Consulates General in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg should be aware of the risk of muggings, several of which have occurrednear U.S. diplomatic facilities. While measures have been taken to address concerns about potential muggings, visitors approaching U.S. government facilities should be aware of their personal security and carry as little money and valuables as possible.
Visitors and residents are advised of ongoing criminal activity involving organized crime gangs targeting individuals and commercial businesses at shopping centers and other public places. Once a victim has been identified, he/she is followed back to his/her residence and robbed. Robberies are usually at gunpoint, although the use of force is generally reserved for those offering some form of resistance. These gangs tend to target people appearing to be affluent, including those driving expensive cars, wearing eye-catching jewelry, flashing large amounts of cash, and/or making high-value purchases.
Cash-in-transit (armored vehicles) robberies remain popular; tourists should try to avoid these vehicles and personnel during a cash delivery or pick-up, particularly at shopping centers or other public locations. Crimes against property, such as carjacking, have often been accompanied by violent acts, including murder, when victims resist or are slow to respond to attackers’ demands.
South Africa also has the highest reported incidence of rape in the world. Foreigners are not specifically targeted, but several have been the victims of rape. Victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical attention, including antiretroviral therapy against HIV/AIDS. Questions about how to receive such treatment should be directed to the nearest U.S. consulate.
Criminal activity, such as assault, armed robbery, and theft, is particularly high in areas surrounding certain hotels and public transportation centers, especially in major cities. Theft of passports and other valuables is most likely to occur at airports, bus terminals, and train stations. A number of U.S. citizens have been mugged or violently attacked on commuter and metro trains, especially between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
In the Western Cape, police resources have been strained by continuing gang conflicts and vigilante violence in the low income areas and informal settlements in Cape Town. People who are unfamiliar with the Cape Flats area, surrounding townships and squatter camps should not visit these areas. Additionally, travelers should be aware that muggings have become common along many popular routes on Table Mountain, a prime tourist destination in Cape Town. Visitors to Table Mountain should be vigilant, hike in groups, and not carry valuables.**
Crime in Durban remains high. Visitors should avoid travelling in the city center after dark as well as all travel to the surrounding townships. The suburbs north and west of the city are generally considered to be safer than the city center, but all visitors should remain vigilant and exercise caution at all times.
Should you be confronted by an armed individual - immediately comply, avoid making sudden movements, and do not offer any form of resistance. Any hesitation on your part could be perceived as a threat and may result in unnecessary violence. Criminals do not discriminate.*
ATMs: Criminals often loiter near ATMs, targeting persons withdrawing cash. A common scheme is the “Good Samaritan” fraud, where a criminal attempts to help out with a particular ATM transaction. As this is a prevalent crime, do not accept "assistance" from anyone, or agree to assist others with ATM transactions. Travelers should also try to avoid using ATMs after business hours or in remote locations.*
Criminals have used commercial explosives to blow up ATMs in South Africa. ATM bombings have taken place in the early hours of the morning in remote or isolated areas, although some attacks have taken place at gas stations and shopping complexes.*
Based on these threats, the following security precautions are recommended:*
Avoid using ATMs in dark, remote, or isolated areas.
Never allow someone to assist you at the ATM, and never assist anyone else at the ATM either.
ATMs located inside shopping malls, hotels, and banks are preferred since they are normally high-traffic areas, and monitored by security guards and cameras.*
Avoid using an ATM with a cord or other foreign object attached to it. Should you notice a suspicious device on an ATM, immediately leave the area; take cover, and notify the police. Shrapnel and debris from an explosion can travel long distances and cause serious injury or death.*
Before withdrawing money, scan the area for any suspicious persons or activity. Should anyone approach you while you are withdrawing money, immediately cancel the transaction and leave the area.*
Incidents of credit card fraud, counterfeit U.S. currency, and various check-cashing scams have also been reported. When giving your credit card to a store or restaurant employee for processing, do not let the card out of your sight. Most South African restaurants have portable credit card machines that can be brought to your table.*
Hotel Security: Thefts from hotel rooms throughout the country remain a concern. Travelers are reminded to make use of hotel provided room safes or lock boxes at the front desk for all valuables.
Financial Scams:Visitors should also beware of telephone, internet, or email schemes, which attempt to win the confidence of unsuspecting persons who are persuaded either to provide financial information or money, or to travel to South Africa and assist in a supposedly lucrative business venture. Since 2008, there have been several cases of U.S. citizens losing thousands of dollars and putting themselves in danger by responding to financial scams (also known as “419 scams”). Some scam victims have traveled to South Africa only to lose more money, and, in a few cases, be physically attacked or kidnapped for ransom.
Car Thefts and Carjackings: Carjacking and thefts of property from cars remain serious problems. Doors should remain locked and windows rolled up at all times. Motorists are urged to hide bags, cell phones, and other valuables from view at all times and to be extremely cautious when approaching intersections. “Smash-and-grab” robberies are common throughout South Africa, particularly in urban areas, at traffic lights and on highway off-ramps. A criminal, sometimes posing as a vendor or beggar, will walk between lines of vehicles waiting at an intersection, surveying the contents for valuables. Once an item of value is identified, the perpetrator will quickly smash the window and grab the item off the seat before fleeing, often before the driver can determine what happened. In another scenario an individual (or two working in tandem) may indicate to a driver an apparent flat tire or other problem and wait for the driver to pull over or exit the car before grabbing exposed valuables. You should avoid carrying anything of value inside the car (e.g., briefcases, purses, cell phones, etc.) that could attract potential assailants.
Criminals, often in groups, have placed large and sharp objects in the road (rocks, bricks, shards of metal, etc.) in an effort to puncture a vehicle’s tires. Another less frequently used tactic is for thieves to throw rocks and bricks from freeway overpasses onto moving vehicles to damage cars and disorient drivers. The thieves then rob the driver once he has pulled over to inspect the damage.
Airport Safety: Although infrequent, travelers leaving the airport have been targeted by criminals for robbery, while enroute to their hotels or places of residence. As such, all travelers should be extremely vigilant when leaving the airport and ensure that a reliable mode of transportation is used (such as arranging pick-up directly with a hotel, or using airport approved modes of transport).*
There is a serious problem with theft from baggage at O.R. Tambo (Johannesburg) and Cape Town International airports. Travelers are encouraged to secure their luggage with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved locks, use an airport plastic wrapping service and avoid placing any items of value in checked luggage.
Criminals are known to also target travelers at ATMs in airports.
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