Johannesburg Travel Forum

How would you compare Johannesburg to Los Angeles?

I've heard that crime can range from pick pockets to kidnapping. Currently what's the situation? Is there anything out of the ordinary going on that travelers should worry about? What parts of the city should we strictly avoid?

I've read the page at the US state department website:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1008.html

I've never been to South Africa nor any part of Africa. So your thoughts and concerns will be of great help.

Having never been to LA I cannot compare the 2, but there have been numerous discussions on crime and how to deal with it in the South Africa forum. To avoid repeating myself again (and again) please look through the forum and see if that answers your questions.
Kim

I have been in Johannesburg only very briefly on my way to Capetown, but a colleague lives there. Crime IS a major problem in South Africa, and Johannesburg is one of the worst cities. If you consider that only 3 % of the perpetrators who commit major crimes are actually sentenced you will understand there is a strong sense of impunity. In many cases it will be sufficient to be streetwise - donīt flash money, jewellery, laptop, good cell phone etc. Use Cabs. Be sure to use safety recommendations and alarms when they are available (I know of a case where a bunch of people rented a beach villa at the Indian Ocean and thought they could be lax about bolting the doors, switching on alarms etc until they read a note left by their predecessors who had been robbed, beaten up and raped). Especially in Johannesburg areas that once were no go neighborhoods are suddenly popular nightlife spots and vice versa, so seek advice from people who live there upon arrival. That said, no doubt you will meet a lot of friendly, helpful and honest people in Johannesburg. So donīt let the crime situation scare you away from visiting

Hi there! I was in Johannesburg last March and I also read all the bad crimes in the city, but I just made sure I did not venture out at night. First thing I noticed was that I was the only Chinese-looking Asian in the whole mall -- I hired a driver to show me around with his car and he brought me to this mall where you can have a magnificent view of the city. I pointed out my observation that I was the only Asian and I only saw one white lady, and he said that there's actually a Chinatown in Johannesburg so I should not feel uncomfortable. Well, I really wasn't uncomfortable because people did not really pay much attention to me (but then I lived for four years on rough-neighborhood Armour Blvd in Kansas City if u know what I mean)...and my driver would sometimes let me go in and out of stores on my own. And nothing happened to me, except that at one souvenir store the clerk asked if I would be willing to exchange my shoes for the statue that I was looking at...and they were old Nike's!
Compared to Los Angeles (and I lived in Van Nuys when I was younger), it's hard to compare because in L.A. I know how the culture is and English will get you through a hard situation (although English is widely spoken in SA). Maybe, I would say that the favelas of Brazil (which I have visited also) are actually more dangerous than Johannesburg.
But, if I did not have a driver/guide, I don't think I would be comfortable just walking around on my own. I also noticed that most of the buildings were not well-maintained and my driver said it has been neglected since Apartheid because this was the "black" part of the city. He pointed out there was another city near Johannesburg where whites frequented instead (I forgot the name...)...I also walked around Rosebank Mall which is a bit of a drive from downtown, and that mall was safe and I walked around on my own....So, there's really still some form of "segragation" but hopefully the future will bring more intermingling...now, Cape Town - that's a different story. There is more "intermingling", Cape Town itself is cosmopolitan, and I walked around on my own during the day. Hope this helps...

Yep, unfortunately crime - and violent crime in particular - is a problem in South Africa. You'll have to brush up and actively employ crime prevention strategies - but I suppose that is true for most major cities in the world!

Norm, your driver was talking crap! You only have to wander around Durban or Pretoria's city centre or even many formerly great suburbs to see how things have deteriorated over the last few years.

I was in Durban in 2004 and could not believe my eyes when comparing it with less than a decade earlier.

I did not go to Durban but I read the area was also poorly maintained...I wonder why SA does not fix its buildings in major cities, specially when they'll be hosting the World Cup in Cape Town? Surely, travellers might be flying to see Jo'burg, Pretoria and Durban too during soccer games... The buildings I saw in Johannesburg really needed urgent attention...

I did not go to Durban but I read the area was also poorly maintained...I wonder why SA does not fix its buildings in major cities, specially when they'll be hosting the World Cup in Cape Town? Surely, travellers might be flying to see Jo'burg, Pretoria and Durban too during soccer games... The buildings I saw in Johannesburg really needed urgent attention...

Gentleman...Yes there is crime,but so is there everywhere. If you staying in the good areas,there is no problem going out to the shopping centres etc at night..Just dont look like a tourist with cameras round the neck etc. Yes,the city centres have deteriorated, but that is due to your businesses moving into the suburbs. 20 years ago you shopped in the city centre of Pretoria,because that is where everything was. You now have huge shopping centres in Pretoria like Menlyn Centre, The Kolonade, Centurion Centre, Red Shopping Centre, plus I would guess a further 5 that would not be out of place anywhere in the Western World. Those VT members who emigrated 5 years ago, would not recognise many of these centres.

Stay out of the very centre of the citys. These used to be very popular residential centres in years gone by, but have now become more "communal"type accomodation. I drive home through the centre of Pretoria every day or night, and have had no problems,but I am careful.Dont drive through town with your windows open That is no problem,as 90% of rental cars and taxis have aircons in them..If you would like,drop me an e-mail with places that you want to visit,and I will give you my view.

As is clear from my home page, I am in love with Bangkok..We have had a camera snatched while we have been there, but then it is put down to being a once off incident...When it happens in South Africa,is is seen as CRIME..What is the difference.
These stories about kidnapping is absolute rubbish.There was a story awhile ago about an Australian who had dissappeared. He turned up in Aussie 3 weeks later.He had left his wife.There was also the story of the man who came from Japan because he was going to get 10 million dollars from a "scam. When he met the people that he was getting this money from, the kept him locked up waiting for money to be paid to them He was not kidnapped at the airport like some stories suggested...The stories always make the international news, but when the truth comes out,that is relegated to page 12 of the newspapers.

Come out and see..You will have a great time,and any assistance you need,just drop me a line.

Regards

Mike

I am in Canada and leave for Jo'burg tomorrow. It will be my third time in SA since 2004. I am a senior and if I thought it was that dangerous, I would stay home for sure. I do stay with friends who have always lived there so that certainly helps but I have never felt afraid there even though I am aware that extreme poverty breeds crime.
Just take proper precautions and stay out of the Central Business District and other "suspect" areas.

If you stay in johannesburg only for a short visit, chances are low that you will become part of the statistics of crime here. That is if you follow the precautions mentioned in the previous postings.

As for those advisories from the different countries about south africa, some of them are based on first hand experiences of the embassy staff of the different embassies here.

The official line of the previous government was that crime here is random, and its mostly crimes of opportunity and not an organized one. I find it a revolting explanation.

Its a good thing that the new government has faced up to the fact that crime and security here needs to be addressed head on.

But even with all the bad publicity , tourists still come here in big numbers because south africa has a lot of unique experience to offer that they are willing to disregard the bad publicity and come here.


bong

I live in Johannesburg and agree with Michael from Pretoria's answer to you. Johannesburg downtown is not as safe as 20 yrs ago. The suburbs and shopping centres are some of the best in the world, as well as our hotels.

thank you everyone for the honest and thoughtful insights. I agree with the people saying that the crime shouldn't keep us from enjoying the time. It just means we'll have to be a more aware of the surroundings.

I'm glad we, as a community of travelers, always take the time to share our experiences.

Hello,


I am planning to tarvel to Johannesburg for a training in the middle of February and I was asking would it be better (safer) option too book a hotel in Sandton, than in Johannesburg? Or which districts are the safest ones there? I'd really appreciate the help, since I am a little lost....


Regards,
Ileana

Sandton is the business centre of Johannesburg, with a lot of great hotels. I would with out a doubt book in Sandton, as the hotels in Jo'Burg central are "cheap and nasty"

Regards

Mike

Yes, Sandton and the northern suburbs hotels are good and safe. Bryanston, Morningside and Fourways are in the Northern suburbs. Stay away from Rosebank and the City hotels.

Supin I got home yesterday from five weeks in South Africa. I spent four of those weeks with friends in South Africa and never once did I feel afraid. I wandered around shopping malls by myself but did always drive with friends.