Advice for visitors

For a fuller set of 'Safety and Security Tips for Tourists and Visitor' put out by the City of Johannesburg from the JTC office or a kiosk.

To ensure your safety, you need to apply the same common sense you would anywhere.

Wherever you are, pay attention to your surroundings and report suspicious circumstances and characters to the nearest security or police officer (the South African Police (SAP) is identified by blue uniforms and white cars with blue markings):

• Wear clothing to blend in and avoid obvious tourist behaviours
  (dangling camera over your shoulder, for example)
• Keep desirables like cell phones out of view
• Avoid wearing anything flashy (jewellery, expensive watches, eyewear, anything you’d be upset about losing)
• Passports, travel documents, money, expensive jewellery and watches
  should be left in a safe place, rather than carried around
• Handbags should be zipped (zip with flap-over best)
• In open-air and pavement restaurants especially, avoid hanging your handbag over the back of your chair (stay aware of where it is at all times, place under the table)
• Tuck wallets, keys, passports, travel documents away anywhere you go
• Appearances can be deceptive. Con artists are often well dressed; (listen to what they do, rather than what they say and wear)
• Keep track of your keys at all times (check them in at the front desk, never leave them in public bathrooms or at the hotel pool, never leave them in an unattended car for a minute)
• Be cautious of sex workers and strangers on the street (could be linked to drug peddlers and muggers)
• Lost passports should be reported to your country embassy or consulate and the South African Police Service (SAPS) immediately
• Lock as you go: even if you go down the passage for ice, lock your hotel room door, windows, connecting room doors and patio sliding doors
• Keep a vigilant eye on your luggage (make sure your bags are locked and preferably walk with your porter to the room)

Your money: Be extra careful

• Carrying cash is risky, carry less
• Make larger cash deposits in a branch (not an ATM)
• If you habitually use the same ATM, vary your route to and from the ATM (criminals notice patterns, you could be observed and followed)
• Keep to a safe distance between you and the person behind you when drawing money at an ATM; never show or hand your card to a stranger
• Never count your money in view of strangers or in public
• Carry travellers cheques instead of large amounts of cash
• Avoid carrying all your cash and travellers cheques with you; leave what you don’t need in your room or hotel safe.
• Write down your credit card numbers and the customer service telephone number for your bank (if you have one, enter it in your mobile)
• Separate your cash and credit cards
• Safely keep a copy set of important documents and traveller cheques numbers
• Immediately report stolen or cards stuck or retained by the ATM to your bank

Driving and parking safely

• Never leave valuables in sight when parking your car (when using valet parking, only give the attendant your car key)
  
• Keep car windows closed and doors locked when driving around
  
• Traffic lights are rife with opportunists (keep handbags, cell phones and other potential items out of sight. Smash-and-grab thieves notoriously smash car windows, grabbing valuables which attract them before running away (keep perspective, not every person at a traffic light is a thief).
  
• For help on the road, call:
  Metro Emergency Rescue Service 10177
  SA Police Emergency 10111
  Vodacom Emergency 147
  MTN Emergency 112
  
• If you can’t lock them elsewhere; out of view lock your laptop, jackets and other pricey items in the boot (trunk of your car)
  
• Tip casual parking guards R2 or more only on return to your car
  
• Under no circumstances, pick up hitchhikers.

General Tips

• Carry a good guidebook and map
  
• Keep a charged cell phone with you
  
• Lock luggage and label it clearly
  
• Keep shopping receipts for reclaiming VAT (compulsory 14% tax) at airports
  
• It is unsafe to walk around unprotected at night; stay clear completely
  of dark and isolated places

Mini directory

Emergency and useful numbers (dialled locally)

All life threatening emergencies

• Ambulance 10177 (Free landline call)
  
• SA Police Emergency 10111 (Free landline call)
  
• Metro Emergency Rescue Service 10177 (Free landline call)
  
• For difficulties with emergency calls:
  Ambulance, Fire or Police 1022 (Free call from landline only)
  
• Child Emergency 0800 123 321
  
• Hospitals Emergency Connect (011) 375 5911
  
• AA Roadside Rescue Emergencies 082 16 111