In addition to 5.56's post, this was released by OSAC
https://www. osac.gov/ Reports/report. cfm?contentID= 99642
South Africa 2009 Crime & Safety Report
Crime & Safety
Sub-Saharan Africa - South Africa
28 Jan 2009
Overall Crime and Safety Situation
Current specific crime threats in South Africa are primarily vehicle thefts, personal robberies and residential thefts. The Department of State rates Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town as "Critical" for crime. American citizens who become victims of crime in South Africa are not specifically targeted due to citizenship, but are targeted because they present themselves as an easy target for criminal elements. The prospect of quick, easy money is the motive for most of the burglaries, robberies, muggings, and carjackings committed in South Africa. Any person, regardless of ethnicity or socio-economic status, especially a person who displays any outward signs of affluence, is susceptible to become a victim of crime in South Africa.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) recently released its 2008, semi-annual national crime statistics. These statistics indicate a 42 percent increase in business robberies over the last reporting period of 2007. A very real concern for both South Africans and unsuspecting visitors alike is to be present during, or come upon a crime in progress. Innocent bystanders become victims, as robbers see patrons as an added source of
income. Restaurants, jewelry shops, grocery stores and other business establishments are prime targets of South Africa's armed robbers. Apart from raiding the business or store, take-over style robberies allow robbers to relieve customers of cash, cell phones and other valuables. Any resistance can result in physical harm, or in the most extreme cases, murder. Armed robbers have demonstrated their willingness to use lethal force without hesitation or provocation. Criminals have no fear of South African law enforcement or the judicial system.
The gratuitous violence associated with many robberies affects all South Africans, including the business community. Though crime is not unique to this country, what sets South Africa apart from other nations is the level of violence associated with crime. Globally, South Africa is ranked fourth for robbery, second for murder, and number one for rape per capita.
SAPS statistics indicate there are 51 murders per day in South Africa. In addition, there are a staggering 100 rapes a day (a number which is most likely under-reported) which indicates a marked decrease since the last reporting period. As an aggravating factor, the HIV/AIDS infection rate of the local population is estimated to be 18 to 22 percent.
Additional crime concerns facing the populace and visitors include home-invasion robbery, burglary, carjacking (often violent), and street mugging (frequently with knives, but increasingly with handguns). Travelers should always be aware of their surroundings and avoid traveling on foot at night. Smash-and-grab robberies are a common occurrence at major intersections and highway off-ramps. No valuables should be left in plain sight in any vehicle. Drivers must always be alert as to who is approaching their vehicle - whether it is at an intersection, shopping mall, grocery store parking lot or home.
Pick-pocketing is common and travelers should safeguard their passport, wallet and other valuables and know where these possessions are at all times.
Country-wide, SAPS statistics show there is an average of 39 carjacking incidents per day in South Africa. Close to half of these incidents occur in the Gauteng Province, which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria. In addition to carjacking incidents, an average of 219 vehicles are stolen every day. Motorists should be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles and activity especially in the vicinity of their residence. Eighty-five percent of all carjacking incidents in South Africa occur as the victim arrives at home and pulls into the driveway. Usually the carjacker(s) will pull up behind the victim in order to block an escape path as the victim enters the driveway. The carjacker will either deploy from the getaway vehicle or lie in wait in
foliage or a dark area. This gives the attacker the element of surprise and enables him quickly to take control of the situation. In the worst case scenario, robbers force the victim into the house, rob the house of its valuables, and drive away with the loot. Victims who resist or fail to comply with demands may be killed or seriously injured.
Given the high rate of burglaries and violent crime, a primary concern for most Americans is residential security. Police response to calls for assistance is slow (and sometimes nonexistent) . Reliance upon private security firms to provide armed response and guard services is the norm, as are security lighting, burglar bars, non-electric and electric fencing, and alarm systems.
Recently, criminals have employed new tactics in order to increase profitability during a residential robbery. Instead of burglarizing houses when the occupants are away, a recent trend is to rob a house when people are at home. This tactic has a two-fold result: 1) The robbers can force the victim to identify where valuables are located; and 2) criminals can gain access to a residence without tripping the alarm, thereby avoiding detection by police and private security, giving them free reign
to focus on making their crime as profitable as possible.
Travelers should also be aware of cash-in-transit vehicle heists. Armored cars are targeted, usually by several armed bandits who employ overwhelming firepower. These robbers routinely fire their weapons in order to achieve their objective. Armored cars should be avoided, especially when they are making deposits or picking up cash receipts.
ATM scams and credit card fraud are prevalent throughout South Africa. Do not accept assistance from "helpful citizens." Never provide anyone with your PIN and do not allow anyone physically to handle your ATM card. Adept ATM scammers can clone your card with a quick swipe of a card reader which is held in their palm, or exchange your card with a bogus one in a matter of seconds.
Travelers should try to avoid using ATM machines after bank business hours. ATM scammers also employ card capture devices in order to steal your ATM card. This can be done with a false front ATM, x-ray film trap or an altered card reader. When the cardholder/victim leaves the ATM minus the card, criminals later return and help themselves to your cash and the card. When giving your credit card to a store or restaurant employee for
processing, do not let him or her take the card out of your sight.
In addition, travelers should avoid using ATMs in dark, remote areas. Criminals frequently target ATMs using commercial explosives to gain access to cash. ATM bombings normally occur in remote areas, in the early hours of the morning. In 2008, it is reported there were 423 ATM bombings in South Africa.
There has been an increase of so-called "419 scams" originating in South Africa. A 419 scam is an advance fee fraud scheme where the victim is requested to provide advance money in order to pay up-front costs associated with receiving a substantial monetary windfall. This type of scam can also be initiated under the guise of a seemingly legitimate business proposition. Bogus websites are set up on the internet in order to dupe the victim who is seeking a specific business opportunity. Based on
the information contained on the bogus website, the victim then contacts the scammer and agrees to travel to South Africa in order to negotiate a business deal. The trap is sprung when the victim arrives in the country. Upon arrival, the unwitting victim can be kidnapped for ransom or coerced to drain funds until he has no more. If you fall victim to this type of scam,
SAPS will not pursue the case to prosecution unless you are willing to file a formal complaint and testify in open South Africa court. For more information on these types of scams, please go to the SAPS website at:
http://www.saps. gov.za and search 419 scams.
If you have received such a solicitation, please visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation' s website before providing any personal/financial details or making a financial commitment at:
http://www.fbi. gov/majcases/ fraud/fraudschem es.htm.
