Is Johannesburg safe? Johannesburg is a major South African city with millions of residents, businesses and visitors, but it also has significant crime risks that residents and tourists should understand before travelling around the city.
Safety can vary considerably between neighbourhoods and situations. Crime risk is affected by factors such as location, time of day, whether an area is isolated or busy, the type of transport being used and whether valuables are visible.
Official South African Police Service (SAPS) statistics are published by police station and crime category rather than providing one simple "Johannesburg safety score." This means that local conditions should be considered when assessing a particular neighbourhood.
Visitors should take sensible precautions in Johannesburg, particularly at night and in isolated areas. Official travel guidance warns that violent crime can occur in cities and tourist areas and recommends avoiding isolated places, staying alert and using safe and reliable transportation.
This does not mean that every part of Johannesburg is unsafe. Millions of people live, work and travel around the metropolitan area every day. However, visitors should plan their movements rather than assuming that normal precautions used in every major city are sufficient.
Johannesburg experiences a range of crimes, from theft and robbery to more serious violent offences. SAPS publishes official crime statistics and updates them by reporting period and police station.
The latest published SAPS statistics show that crime levels can differ substantially between individual policing precincts. For example, SAPS's detailed statistics identify numerous separate Johannesburg District police stations rather than treating the entire city as one homogeneous area.
Johannesburg is a large metropolitan area rather than one uniform neighbourhood. Safety conditions can differ between suburbs, commercial districts, transport areas and residential communities.
For this reason, it is better to research the exact neighbourhood where you plan to stay or live rather than describing an entire suburb as permanently "safe" or "unsafe."
Neighbourhood descriptions are not guarantees of safety. Crime conditions can change, and the safest choice depends on the exact street, accommodation, time and activity.
Extra caution is recommended after dark.
Official travel advice recommends avoiding walking alone after dark and avoiding isolated areas. SAPS tourist safety guidance similarly advises visitors to stay away from dark, isolated areas at night and to explore in groups where possible.
Driving can be practical in Johannesburg, but visitors should take precautions.
SAPS advises motorists to plan routes in advance, keep vehicle doors locked and windows closed, avoid leaving valuables visible inside the vehicle and park in well-lit areas at night.
OR Tambo International Airport is Johannesburg's principal international airport and an important transport hub. Visitors should take particular care when travelling between the airport and their accommodation.
Current UK government travel guidance specifically warns that criminals have followed people travelling from OR Tambo International Airport to their destinations and then robbed them. It recommends using main roads, avoiding isolated areas and arranging reliable transport where possible.
Public transport safety varies according to the service, route, time and location. Visitors should research their specific journey instead of assuming that every transport option has the same level of risk.
For tourists unfamiliar with Johannesburg, reliable and established transportation can be preferable, particularly for airport transfers and travel at night.
Official South African Police Service guidance recommends using a reliable taxi service and states that hotels or South African Tourism can recommend reliable services.
Expats who live in Johannesburg generally have different safety considerations from short-term tourists because they need to choose accommodation, commute regularly and establish daily routines.
Families can live in Johannesburg, but choosing accommodation requires more research than simply selecting a suburb from an online list.
Parents should consider the security of the residential property, school location, commuting routes, nearby services and how children will travel between home, school and activities.
It is also useful to visit an area during both daytime and evening hours before making a long-term housing decision.
The South African Police Service publishes official crime statistics for South Africa and provides detailed information for individual police stations and reporting periods.
This is important when researching Johannesburg because crime statistics should not be interpreted as though every part of the city experiences the same conditions.
For the most current figures, check the latest SAPS crime-statistics release rather than relying on an old safety ranking or an outdated blog post.
Keep the appropriate emergency numbers available when visiting or living in Johannesburg.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| South African Police Service emergency | 10111 |
| Mobile emergency number | 112 |
| Ambulance | 10177 |
| Crime Stop / anonymous crime information | 08600 10111 |
SAPS states that 10111 is its 24-hour police emergency number. South African government information also confirms 10111 for crime emergencies and 08600 10111 for anonymous crime reporting.
SAPS tourist guidance lists 112 as the mobile phone emergency number and 10177 for ambulance services.
If you become the victim of a robbery, prioritise your personal safety. Do not put yourself at additional risk by physically resisting an armed attacker.
Once you are in a safe location, contact the police and report the incident. The South African government advises victims to report crime at the nearest police station, where the police can open a case docket and investigate.
If you are visiting Johannesburg for the first time, consider these factors when choosing accommodation:
Instead of asking whether the whole city is simply "safe" or "unsafe," research the specific neighbourhood, route and activity you plan to use.
This approach gives tourists and new residents much more useful information because Johannesburg is a large metropolitan area with very different residential, commercial and transport environments.
Safety is only one part of deciding where to live. Before moving to Johannesburg, also research rent, salaries, commuting times, healthcare, schools, neighbourhoods and everyday living costs.
Use JohannesburgInfo.com to explore practical guides for living, working, studying and moving to Johannesburg.