MB, it is by far the most dangerous city in the world. on a good weekend you get 35 murders in Jo'burg's Hillbrow district alone (covers an area about 1/40th the size of Manhattan). every year 25,000 car hi-jackings take place. if you take a walk in Jo'burgs city centre to e.g. go shopping, you better have a bodyguard with you...no matter what time of the day it is. at the very least you have to make a plan about which route to take, where to hide your money, etc.
at night one sometimes thinks one is in the middle of a war zone. everything from machine-gun fire to minor explosions can be heard. apart from the muggers and armed robbers, of which there is no shortage, there are also wars between the various taxi associations, which often engage in broad daylight shoot-outs. there's also a continuing political conflict, mainly between the conservative Zulu Inkatha movement and the ANC. on one occasion ANC snipers shot over 30 people during an Inkatha demonstration in the inner city from adjacent roof tops.
the right wing white conservatives also like to plant car bombs near the head quarters of political opponents.
nowhere in Johannesburg can one feel truly safe...the wealthy are living in ghettos, enclosed with high walls and razor wire and guarded by heavily armed guards.
visiting Jo'burg can only be recommended to the most adventurous souls...
the police are generally powerless and unwilling to risk their own necks as it were.
this descent into anarchy was the main reason why i left the country.
regards,
hb |
