South Africa

South Africa: Honeymoon Murder May Not Have Been What It Appeared to Be

Date: December 8th, 2010 |

The recent high-profile murder of a Swedish honeymoon bride in a township near Cape Town may not have been the random act of violence it was originally believed to be. One of three suspects implicated the victim’s husband in the murder plot when he struck a plea bargain with the court. The husband had not [read more]

South Africa: SA and UK Police Keep Soccer Hooligans Out; Cape Town Outsmarts Thieves

Date: June 2nd, 2010 |

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In its effort to control crime during the upcoming World Cup competition, South Africa has worked closely with British police to prevent known British hooligans from entering the country. The kind of soccer violence that Europe has battled for years does not occur in South Africa, so police have no experience with it. Last month [read more]

South Africa: Great White Takes Swimmer Near Cape Town

Date: January 20th, 2010 |

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The beaches of Cape Town are overseen by the world’s only shark-spotting network, but it was no consolation for a swimmer who was killed by a great white shark Jan. 13 off Fish Hoek beach. The man was attacked three times by a shark described as immense by witnesses as he swam about 100 yards [read more]

South Africa: Johannesburg Taxi Drivers to Strike Sept. 1

Date: August 27th, 2009 |

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Commuter taxi drivers in Johannesburg plan to strike Sept. 1 to protest the launch of a new public bus system that they say will threaten their business. The South African National Taxi Drivers Council said the indefinite strike will be peaceful, but in the past violence has erupted among drivers because of disputes over routes. [read more]

South Africa: Strikes Affect Transit, Clinics, Parks

Date: July 30th, 2009 |

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A strike by about 150,000 municipal workers shut down buses, clinics, city parks and other services July 27. In many cities, rallies deteriorated into looting and other violence. More chaos erupted July 28 in Mpumalanga province and Thokoza, a Johannesburg township. The strike continued while unions considered the government’s offer of a 13 percent wage [read more]

South Africa: U.S. Consulate Adds After-Hours Emergency Line for World Cup

Date: June 23rd, 2010 |

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The U.S. Consulate in Cape Town advised U.S. citizens that a South Africa-wide after-hours emergency contact number is in place through the July 11 end of the World Cup. Any U.S. citizen facing an emergency between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. or anytime on the weekend should call 079-111-5000 (from outside South [read more]

South Africa: World Cup Begins June 11, Johannesburg Trains Service Station Workers as Tourist Guides

Date: May 26th, 2010 |

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The World Cup will be held in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Pretoria June 11 to July 11, and South Africa has been working for years to assure a safe and secure series of games. All four cities, however, as well as South Africa in general, have high crime rates and visitors must be vigilant [read more]

South Africa: Armed Gangs Target Shopping Malls

Date: September 2nd, 2009 |

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Armed gangs have targeted 26 shopping malls in Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria, prompting South African police to increase uniformed patrols, implement undercover officers, surveillance and random searches of suspicious individuals at malls across the province. The U.S. Embassy recommends remaining vigilant when patronizing malls, retail outlets and restaurants, and if caught in [read more]

South Africa: Fake Police Dupe Victims

Date: August 5th, 2009 |

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Thieves in Cape Town have been impersonating plainclothes police officers and approaching people on foot or attempting to pull them over in their cars to rob them. Those on foot ask for the victim’s wallet claiming to be looking for contraband or proof of identification, then help themselves to cash. Those in cars place blue [read more]

South Africa: Card Skimming Scam Snares the Unwary

Date: June 3rd, 2009 |

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ATM card skimming remains a problem around the country, with the usual mode of operation being obtaining the card’s data using a card reader attached to the ATM and gaining the PIN by looking over the victim’s shoulder as he enters it. Another method is to jam one ATM, then “assist” the victim at another [read more]

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