Safety & Risks in Johannesburg
Johannesburg is a great place to visit to explore new things and get a taste of the one-of-a-kind South African cultural heritage portrayed in the city. It is only fair to be aware of the dark side of the town so you can have the safest, most smooth experience.
The following are the most common type of risks enveloping tourists:
Transport Risk: Cases of muggings on public transport are among the most common criminal occurrences reported in Johannesburg. Robberies and muggings are also heavily cited in and around railway stations and metro trains, and luggage theft at airports has seemed to increase.
Pickpocketing: Hugely populated markets, train stations, and public transport are the main sites of petty theft, as it's relatively easier to let loose hold of your belongings in such crowded places.
Mugging: Johannesburg is a hub larger than any other major city in South Africa when it comes to trivial transgressions such as mugging and robbery. Therefore, keeping a wide eye on your surroundings and a firm grip over your belongings is the one-shot way to avoid falling prey to such crimes.
Women Safety Risk: Johannesburg has not just emerged as a sweet spot for petty crimes to happen but also major assaults against women, including rapes. The number has sky-rocketed in recent years, thus giving female travellers a significant reason to be cautious at every step. Especially at night, avoid the isolated and dimly-lit streets and limit interaction with strangers in such areas.
Health Risk: Diseases linked to poor sanitation and water quality are common, and morbidity resulting from violence and substance abuse is among the highest in the country.
Scams in Johannesburg
1. Tourist Police Scam
Scammers have a way of committing crimes and can fool visitors rather artistically. Be aware of the popular "tourist police" as there is no such force in Joburg. They are just a bunch of junkies barging into the tourist buses pretending to be checking identification and searching for luggage while robbing the tourists blind.2. Photograph Scam
As petty as it sounds, the "photograph scam" is one of the most highly occurring scams in Johannesburg and keeps the victim wondering what the actual heck happened to them! So beware when someone comes by and politely asks to take a picture of you and hands the camera over to you because as soon as you return the camera to them, they'll drop it on purpose and blame it on you, demanding the money. So refrain from taking any pictures or involving much with such people.3. Bird Poop Scam
Another common mischievous scam is someone throwing a dollop of "bird's poop-like" white paste onto your shoulder or belongings and taking advantage of your instinct to look up and appear in front of you out of nowhere to lend a hand of help in cleaning the mess, pickpocketing you in return! Don't fall into the temptation to take help from a peculiar local is not such a strange situation.4. Strangers Picking Up a Friendly Conversation
While there is nothing wrong in being polite and warm towards people who might genuinely want to strike up a conversation over a beer, be very cautious of some strangers that may appear over friendly and drown you in a deep discussion about South Africa/politics, etc., dragging your attention away from your belongings while their abettor silently robs you. Avoid such people as much as possible, especially in local bars and remote areas.5. The ATM Scam
Since we are talking about seemingly friendly scammers, one must be aware of a situation in which a stranger tries to help avoid the local bank fees while you're at an ATM cash machine. They're equipped with card skimmers in their pockets and are looking for an opportunity to scan your credit/debit card and watch you enter your PIN to unload your account later. It's highly recommended to refuse any help at an ATM if you're finding trouble with your card, as this could all be a part of the scam.6. Taxi Overcharging
It is essential to be intelligent and calculative while taking taxi trips across the city, as scammers might end up charging you three times the actual route cost! Hence, before hopping into the taxi, it is a good idea to know the approximate time it's going to take you to reach that particular place via google maps, as well as demand that the taxi driver turns the meter on to prevent getting scammed.7. Guessing Game Scam
A recently highlighted scam, wherein a man is seen on the streets of the city with three boxes, crowded by a group of people trying to guess in which box the ball is placed. Classic, we know! When a person in the group makes the correct guess, they are handed a handsome amount of cash as a prize, which attracts the tourists around them. The group then looks for an intrigued spectator as their target and asks the person to make a guess, taking advantage of his deep concentration on the boxes to pickpocket him for cash or any valuables.8. Unofficial Guide
Hiring a professional guide at historical places or national parks is always a wise idea to make the most out of the visit. However, one must be cautious of muggers posing as tourist guides to lure you into low prices to hire them as your tour guide and look for an opportunity to corner you away from the crowd onto a remote street where their armed abettors are waiting to rob you ruthlessly. The typical locations for this crime are on Table Mountain and in the Drakensberg Mountains.Neighbourhoods to Avoid in Johannesburg
- Any of the townships/squatter camps as they are one of the most prominent dwellings for muggers.
- Downtown Johannesburg: The infamous Joburg CBD is a hotspot for mugging and armed robbery. It is recommended not to wear any precious ornaments or carry a camera or laptop. Any devices, including the cellphones, must be safely hidden as the area is loaded with pickpockets.
- Hillbrow: Although Hillbrow is loaded with things to experience, this residential neighbourhood in Joburg has a reputation for having high population density, unemployment, poverty, prostitution, and crime. The district has become overloaded with drug dealers, prostitutes, and human traffickers. There are constant police raids and protests, and you hear about females getting abducted and raped or forced into prostitution on this side of town.
- Alexandria is considered the most menacing neighbourhood in Johannesburg and the entire of South Africa, owing to the frequent ugly gang wars in the township. Therefore it's a strict no-go area, especially alone!
- Berea: Vehicle thefts, mugging, and robbery are prevalent in this township.
Safety Tips
- Be vigilant about your belongings and valuables in public, and don't leave them unattended. Don't leave any of your personal belongings alone in public.
- In case of dining out, keep your bags close, ideally between your legs, where you can see what is happening.
- Being aware of the surroundings is the key in crowded areas, as markets, concerts and busy airports or train stations are shared spaces for petty crimes.
- Even though Jobergurs are pretty friendly and represent polite cultural etiquettes towards strangers, do keep in mind that visiting a bar or taking a specific taxi on a stranger's recommendation might not be wise as they might have malicious intentions.
- Although you should strictly avoid being in or around the dimly-lit low areas of Joburg that are prone to petty thefts and muggings, in case you find yourself in one such neighbourhood, acting smart and not nervous and lost is your best bet. Pretend to be a local who knows their way out, and don't freak out and make yourself a soft target for the muggers. Instead, stay calm and collect yourself, keep a close eye on your belongings and find your way out without attracting attention towards yourself.
- The need to keep your valuables, jewellery, cash/cards, and documents sealed and safe, preferably in the inside pockets of the clothes or anti-theft pockets in your bags, so they don't catch the eyes of the robbers and scammers. Remember, "Stash it, Don't Flash it" is the key here!
- In order to avoid "ATM Scams", you must carry out all the card transactions discretely, avoid any help or interference from a stranger, and never ever hand your card over to anyone, even for a second, as the scammers are super quick at cloning.
- As for safe travel is always advised to book taxis via reliable agencies such as Uber and Gautrain. The Joburg Red Bus is also a fantastic touring facility to show you around safely and allows you to see the best sights.