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Safety
Crime -- much of it violent and senseless -- forms the mainstay of conversation amongst Jozi's privileged, and reports focusing on the tsunami wave of muggings, rapes, and burglaries in and around the city have dominated the media in recent years. While the government insists that crime statistics are improving, people on the ground take little comfort in the soaring need for private security companies and fortresslike barricading of homes and businesses. Johannesburg continues to have some of the highest incidences of crime in the world, and visitors are strongly urged to keep on their toes. The city is a hothouse for those who have realized that the easiest way to make it is to take it. Carjackings are less common now, but keep your car doors locked and windows up. Don't get suckered into stopping your vehicle for strangers; scams involving mock accidents and breakdowns are designed to lure unsuspecting samaritans. If you sense a potential threat, keep in mind that crossing against a red light -- carefully, of course -- is allowed. Don't leave valuables in plain sight in the car, even when you're in it, and it's a good idea to be alert at traffic lights; pay attention to what's going on around you.
Generally speaking, inconspicuous consumption is the order of the day: People who have nothing worth stealing are less likely to attract criminals. Don't carry or wear anything of obvious value (though some say it's worth carrying a small sum of cash to satisfy a demand), and don't look lost. Hillbrow, Berea, and Yeoville are best avoided unless you're accompanied by a guide who is totally familiar with the area. If you are ever mugged, don't protest -- hand over the goods or money and walk away.
If this sort of talk makes you nervous, it may be wise to tour in a group with a guide. Alternatively, you can book one of the lodging options recommended -- which are situated in relatively safe areas -- and spend your time sampling the city's many fine restaurants and exploring its heady nightlife; to do this, I highly recommend using a taxi arranged by your hotel.
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Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's South Africa, 5th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.
Johannesburg
