When you scroll around many foreign government websites like Canada, USA, UK and Australia they are all advising tourists heading to South Africa to proceed with extreme caution. All state avoid political rallies as they can turn violent yet we see the "peaceful" rallies by terrorist groups happening regularly in major cities elsewhere. It is like they have forgotten what they have been allowing to happen in their own countries and are blind to this. We had one Free Palestine march and they were hosed down with water cannons so it was no longer a weekly occurrence.
The above is a warning from the gov.uk website which is rather rich coming from them as the UK is more likely to be hit by terrorists before SA has one. With the unchecked migration rampant in the UK there are going to be many bad eggs and terrorist cells already formed. This is just common sense to realise the possibilities of anything happening in the UK are far higher than they would have been in the past. Why do you think when we travel to the UK we avoid London and I am not alone in thinking that and know many who used to visit the capital no longer do. The UK has changed and quite honestly feel safer in SA than I do in the UK which tells you how things have deteriorated in the last 20 years.
South Africa is generally a safe place like most places around the world if you are vigilant and aware of your surroundings. The US Gov website mentioned those people travelling to informal settlements should seek extra security and I would go one further and say do not go there. Why anyone would think being a tourist going into a poor settlement is a good idea has to be looking for trouble. Some idiots with a woke mindset most likely thinking they can be of use who will only end up being a statistic.
Some staff member from the US Embassy must have done something for this to be stated as a rule.
The reality is there are certain places no one goes and if you avoid those areas the chances are you will be safe. This would go for any other country in the world and not just South Africa. Johannesburg may be a big city by African standards, but it does not mean you go and walk around the streets because it is not safe during the day or night.
The last time I visited Johannesburg for a court date we were armed and protected and were spread out covering each other. Johannesburg is a place to visit if you have to and is not advisable otherwise. Most people avoid the city as I have been in Johannesburg for close to 20 years and may have been there half a dozen times only.
Like in every country around the world if you look like a tourist the chances are you will attract the wrong type of attention. The obvious things like do not wear jewelry or keep your phone in your back pocket or have a bulging wallet spring to mind because then you are looking for trouble. The good news however is many people do carry protection and they will offer help if required.
The suburbs or local areas where people live and shop are somewhat safe havens due to private security companies patrolling the areas. Where I live we have 4 security firms/armed response patrolling and they are or have replaced the police who are basically non existent. With the rise of these private security teams areas are far safer and crime in these areas has dropped.
If we listened to every travel warning we would just all stay at home too terrified to travel and this should not be the case. When we were in Paris just before the Olympics a couple of years ago there were army platoons patrolling the streets and rocket launchers on the tops of the buildings in case of drone attacks. We actually could not have felt safer walking around the streets, but coming from SA you are always vigilant and know who is behind you across the road or in front of you. This is how most of us grew up and is a type of street smart learned from a young age. For most this may not be normal, but this is normal for us and the way the world is heading should be the new normal for everyone. We all have a brain and for some it is about time they started to use it and to think for themselves.