Most Dangerous Cities in South Africa: South Africa is an emerging star in the African tourist industry because to its incredible natural beauty, sun-drenched coastal towns, populations of large game, and diversity of cultures. The southernmost nation on the continent, South Africa is full of surprises, from its diverse cuisine to its vibrant cities, yet crime still tarnishes its image. All types of crimes are committed at high rates in South Africa, including carjacking, sexual assault, murder, and corruption.
Apartheid destroyed South Africa’s economy, and political unrest and poverty have long been problems. Although there is still a minimal likelihood of violent crime targeting tourists in popular locations, you should always be cautious everywhere you go and avoid certain areas. This article examines the most hazardous areas in South Africa, ranging from those with the greatest murder rates to those with the least effective law enforcement.
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Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in South Africa 2024
1. Cape Town: Like many towns in South Africa, Cape Town is among the most hazardous on the continent. Theft, muggery, carjacking, assault, and gang violence are just a few of the crimes that have long been associated with the city.
In Cape Town, high crime rates are a direct result of poverty. With the most significant industrial center and a significant seaport, Cape Town has served as the foundation of South Africa’s economy. However, the city has significant rates of marginalization, unemployment, and inequality. All of these have produced a number of violent crimes, including murder and sexual assault.
2. Johannesburg: For many years, Johannesburg has been known as one of the most criminally active cities in South Africa. Despite having a large police and security presence, Johannesburg has lawlessness. Armed robbery, carjacking, smash-and-grab attacks, vehicular assaults, and molestation are common crimes in Johannesburg. The greatest crime rate in South Africa is found in Sandton, a town near the commercial center of Johannesburg. The majority of victims of Johannesburg’s horrific crime are tourists and members of ethnic communities.
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3. Tripoli: One of North Africa’s riskiest cities is Tripoli. Due to Tripoli’s high crime rate, terrorism, civil upheaval, abduction, and armed warfare, several European and American nations issue travel warnings to their residents. Due to years of civil upheaval, corruption, and drug trafficking—especially after Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in 2011—Tripoli has a high crime rate.
4. Durban: Although it may not be the most hazardous capital city in Africa, Durban has a lot of security issues. It has a high crime rate, particularly in the townships and the CBD. In Durban, homicide, drug trafficking, robbery, and molestation are the most frequent crimes. In addition, there are muggings, assaults, carjackings, vandalism, and thefts that occur. Eight persons lost their lives in June 2023 during a shooting at a Durban men’s hostel. Police said that when many shooters stormed in, shot the guys, and departed, at least 12 of them were drinking. In Durban, there have been more large-scale shootings recently.
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5. Bloemfontein: Many people believe that Bloemfontein is the most hazardous city in all of Africa. The city is often the victim of violent and small-time crimes. The city has seen a sharp rise in theft and vandalism. Theft of anything made of copper or aluminum is the newest crime trend for 2023.
The police said that since air conditioners’ radiators contain copper and aluminum that may be sold as scrap metal, thieves are increasingly focusing on them. In addition to having a high murder rate, Bloemfontein also has a high incidence of bank robberies, cash-in-transit heists, sexual assaults, carjackings, assaults, muggings, and gun violence.
6. Plessislaer: Just outside of Pietermaritzburg, Plessislaer has had a sharp increase in murders over the previous 12 months, going from 43 to 73. Although this figure is modest in comparison to other South African cities, the fact that it almost doubled in a year raises some warning flags. Plessislaer is best avoided if at all feasible since rapes and attacks are frequent across the city.
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7. Pretoria: Engineering, food production, and diamond mining are all thriving in Pretoria, a significant rail and industrial hub of South Africa. It is possible that this African city has the highest crime rate. Over the last three years, crime rates in the city have increased by 85.82%. People in Pretoria are concerned about having their houses broken into and having their possessions taken.
Theft from cars, assaults, muggings, and robberies, as well as graffiti, have all afflicted the city. Pretoria, South Africa, is plagued with corruption as well. The top magistrate of Pretoria was accused of corruption in 2022. A South African accountant corruption investigator and his son were also shot to death in March 2023.
8. Pietermaritzburg: Located in the Msunduzi River Valley just inland from Durban, the city is well-known for hosting sports competitions like the Comrades and Dusi Marathon and is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. In terms of South African cities, Pietermaritzburg is attractive and lively. The provincial capital is a thriving commercial and industrial center where aluminum, footwear, and furniture are all produced. However, it is impossible to overlook Pietermaritzburg’s high crime rates. Despite being one of the least populous towns on this list, the city has a crime index of 81.31, higher than Pretoria and Johannesburg, making it one of the most hazardous locations in South Africa.
It also has a police officer to resident ratio that is still insufficient. Even visitors to Pietermaritzburg face a significant chance of being robbed, assaulted, or defrauded, and despite the city’s excellent highway and rail links, both public and private transportation may be quite hazardous. Visitors shouldn’t use cash in public, display valuables, or board unscheduled transportation. Visitors should constantly be on high alert and avoid going out at night since violent crime is most likely during the evening hours and often results from failed robberies or carjackings.
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9. Rustenburg: Political unrest often spills over into the streets of Rustenburg, leading to bloodshed. Kidnapping and carjacking happen often, and assaults, raps, and killings are all on the upswing. No matter how much caution you exercise while in Rustenburg, there is a strong likelihood that you will experience a violent crime.
10. Port Elizabeth: A large port city best renowned for its beautiful beaches, Port Elizabeth is located on Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape Province. The Old Hill area and its many Victorian monuments are traversed by tourists on the Donkin Heritage Trail. While rare seabirds and whales may be seen on coastal boat cruises, rhinos, elephants, and other big game can be found in reserves. Unfortunately, despite seeming like a traveler’s paradise, Port Elizabeth has a high crime rate, with a total crime rate of 75.92 and a safety index of 24.08.
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Conclusion
In addition to having a high crime rate, South Africa is also susceptible to a variety of natural disasters such tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and droughts. South Africa, however, has a minimal tsunami danger. The least dangerous area of South Africa is said to be its thinly populated west coast. Compared to South Africa’s main cities, towns like Yzerfontein, Churchhaven, and St. Helena Bay have substantially lower crime rates while yet being home to thriving ex-pat communities and family populations. Despite the high overall crime rates in South Africa, the most of the violence on the west coast is gang-related and less likely to impact foreigners and visitors.
Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.