Well, I just checked on some crime stats for the past few days...good news! Although there were numerous crimes reported, NOT ONE involved a visitor to the country.
The South African Chamber of Commerce's (Sacob's) new GM, Dr Kwandiwe Kondlo, said on Monday it would look to act as something of a crime pressure group. He said that the chamber was disappointed with increases in certain crimes. Kondlo said: "Crime is a complex socio-economic phenomenon. The cure to it can't be that immediate."
However, more good news is that PrimeMedia in conjunction with Africa's Best Radio station, 702 Radio have initiated a crime reporting line. People can anonymously report criminal activity and this has already resulted in a number of arrests.
As Dr Kondlo says, crime cannot be 'cured' in a flash, but at least we have some initiatives to start the ball rolling.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
How Safe is it to Visit South Africa?
This is a question being asked more and more recently, as people who want to visit on holiday research what the country is like. Unfortunately there have been incidents reported on recently in the press that cast a negative light on visiting South Africa.
These incidents are actually rare occurrences, blown up in the press so that you get the impression that they are everyday events.
This is definitely not the case. Let me explain why I can say this with confidence. Last year there were about 8 million tourists who visited South Africa - but there were not 8 million criminal acts performed against tourists last year. Nothing like it! Just a few incidents - generally when tourists have taken a chance - gone to a lonely spot alone for example.
You have to realise one fundamental truth about South Africa - it is essentially a third world country with a 'thin veneer' of first world appearance. Poverty and unemployment are rife - regardless of what the 'official' statistics show. Where there is poverty and unempolyment there will be crime - thats a fact.
But there is reason to be positive about visiting South Africa - it can be done safely - as evidenced by the 8 million or so visitors to the country last year alone.
Watch for the next post where I will elaborate on how you can accomplish a safe visit to South Africa!
These incidents are actually rare occurrences, blown up in the press so that you get the impression that they are everyday events.
This is definitely not the case. Let me explain why I can say this with confidence. Last year there were about 8 million tourists who visited South Africa - but there were not 8 million criminal acts performed against tourists last year. Nothing like it! Just a few incidents - generally when tourists have taken a chance - gone to a lonely spot alone for example.
You have to realise one fundamental truth about South Africa - it is essentially a third world country with a 'thin veneer' of first world appearance. Poverty and unemployment are rife - regardless of what the 'official' statistics show. Where there is poverty and unempolyment there will be crime - thats a fact.
But there is reason to be positive about visiting South Africa - it can be done safely - as evidenced by the 8 million or so visitors to the country last year alone.
Watch for the next post where I will elaborate on how you can accomplish a safe visit to South Africa!
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