Gauteng is a busy, big-city province, and like any large city region it has crime. Most visits go smoothly, and a few simple habits make a real difference. These are the tips worth following from the moment you land.
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Save these numbers first
- 112: any emergency, from a cellphone on any network
- 10111: police emergencies (SAPS, 24 hours)
- 10177: ambulance and emergency medical services
- +27 (0)11 085 2101: Gauteng Tourism Authority
If you have private medical cover or travel insurance, save your insurer’s emergency line too, and keep your bank’s card-stop number handy in case a card is lost or swallowed by an ATM.
At the airport
- Lock your bags and keep valuables out of unlocked side pockets. Some airports offer bag wrapping if you want extra protection.
- Do not leave luggage unattended, even for a moment.
- Be wary of staged “accidents” where someone bumps into you. They can be a distraction while someone else takes your things.
- Ignore touts offering transport in the arrivals hall. Use an official taxi, an e-hailing app, a transfer arranged by your accommodation or the Gautrain, which runs between OR Tambo, Sandton, Johannesburg and Pretoria.
At your accommodation
- Keep your room locked and use the safe for passports, cash and devices.
- Check who is at the door before you open it, and hand luggage only to staff you can identify. Ask for a receipt for anything you store.
- Ask reception which areas to avoid and how best to get around. Local staff usually know the current picture better than any guidebook.
Out and about
- Plan your route before you leave. If you get lost, stop at a petrol station or a busy public place to check directions rather than on a quiet street.
- Carry only the cash you need, and keep phones, cameras and jewellery out of sight.
- Keep wallets in an inside pocket and bags zipped and in front of you.
- Stick to well-lit, busy areas at night, and go out in a group where you can.
- Book tours and outings through your accommodation or an established tour operator.
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On the road
- Keep doors locked and windows up, especially at traffic lights, which South Africans call “robots”, and in parking garages.
- Put bags and valuables in the boot before you set off, not on the seat.
- Leave space between you and the car in front so that you can pull away if you need to, and be alert at intersections and on highway on- and off-ramps.
- Do not pick up hitchhikers or accept lifts from strangers.
- Park in well-lit, secure areas at night.
- If you are involved in a minor collision and feel unsafe, signal to the other driver to follow you to the nearest police station or a busy, well-lit place before you get out.
For the roads and intersections where hijackings are most often reported, see our guide to Gauteng hijacking hotspots.
At banks and ATMs
- Use ATMs inside malls or banks where possible.
- Refuse help from strangers while you are using an ATM, however friendly they seem.
- Cover the keypad when you enter your PIN.
- Put your cash away before you leave the machine or counter, and check that you are not being followed.
If something goes wrong
Call 10111 or 112 in an emergency. If you are a victim of crime, report it at the nearest police station and ask for a case number. You will need it for insurance claims and for replacing a lost or stolen passport.
