Sub Saharan Africa

South Africa

Still current at: 03 December 2008

Updated: 02 December 2008

Terrorism

 

There is an underlying threat from terrorism.  Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

 

For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.
 

Crime

 

South Africa has a very high level of crime, including rape and murder.  However, most cases occur in the townships and in areas away from the main tourist destinations.  The South African authorities give high priority to protecting tourists.  Tourism police are deployed in several of the large towns.  For more general information see Rape and Sexual Assault Abroad.

 

During 2007 and 2008 there have been a number of incidents involving foreigners being followed from OR Tambo Airport, Johannesburg to their destinations by car and then robbed, often at gunpoint.  We recommend you exercise particular caution in and around the airport and extra vigilance when driving away.

 

The risk to visitors travelling to the main tourist destinations is low.  But if you are mugged or your car is hijacked you should remain calm, offer no resistance and hand over possessions without question.  Avoid eye contact.  Consult a reliable tour guide if you are visiting a township.

 

South Africa actively promotes an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign.  But given the high level of HIV/AIDS in the country, you should seek immediate medical advice if you are sexually assaulted or otherwise injured.

 

As elsewhere, thieves like to operate at international airports, bus and railway stations.  Keep your baggage with you at all times.  Due to pilfering of luggage at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, it is recommended that where possible, and where local regulations permit, hold luggage is vacuum wrapped.

 

Passport theft is common.  It is usually opportunist and non-violent (and increasingly occurs at airports on arrival or departure), although some passports are taken during muggings.  You should carry photocopies of your passport with you.

Keep large amounts of money, expensive jewellery, cameras and cell phones out of sight.  Do not change large sums of money in busy public areas.

 

Do not give personal or financial account information details to unknown parties.  There are international fraud rings operating in South Africa, as there are in other parts of the world, who may target visitors, foreign businessmen and charities. 

 

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

 

Political Situation

South Africa Country Profile

 

Local Travel

Zimbabwe

We advise against all travel to high density, low-income suburban areas at any time; and all but essential travel to rural Mashonaland, rural Manicaland and farming areas.  There have been a number of serious incidents in rural areas and it is dangerous for farmers or agricultural workers to visit former properties or other agricultural areas.

South Africa

In mid May 2008 there was a spate of violent attacks in townships within Gauteng Province. Foreign immigrants from Zimbabwe and other neighbouring states were targeted.  Though these attacks have ceased, you should avoid townships in Gauteng Province. You should check this advice regularly for updates.

Johannesburg, like other major international cities, has specific risk areas.  You should avoid Berea and Hillbrow.  There is a high level of muggings around the Rotunda bus terminus in the Central Business District.

 

In all areas of South Africa, you should be cautious when out after dark.  Streets, even in urban areas, are not brightly lit at night.  Be vigilant at all times in Durban's city centre and beach front area.  Keep to main roads and avoid driving at night when visiting Northern KwaZulu Natal and Zululand, as there have been incidents of hi-jacking and robbery, particularly on isolated secondary roads.

 

You should park in well-lit areas.  Do not pick up strangers.  Do not stop to assist (apparently) distressed motorists, as this is a technique sometimes used by hijackers.  It is better to report the incident to the police.

 

Be vigilant on the approach roads to and from Kruger Park where there have been cases of car hijacking.  The local authorities have increased police patrols in this area.

 

Avoid isolated beaches and picnic spots across South Africa and stay in company.  Walking alone anywhere, especially in remote areas, is not advised and hikers should stick to popular trails.  Call the police (on 10111 (112 from cell phones)) at the first sign of a threat.

 

There have been attacks on hikers and tourists on Table Mountain.  Some attacks have been violent.  You should be cautious when in the quieter areas of the Park, especially early in the morning or just before the park closes.  Park authorities, who are attempting to address the problem, recommend that visitors should walk in groups and take all appropriate precautions.

 

Road Travel

 
A valid UK driver’s licence is accepted in South Africa for up to 12 months after entry, provided it carries the photograph and signature of the holder.  Old style UK driving licences, without photographs of the holder, may be authenticated by the Consular Section of the British High Commission or the Consulate General in Cape Town.

The standard of driving in South Africa can vary greatly and there are many fatal accidents every year.

 

Some general advice: on highways it is well worth remembering that overtaking can occur in any lane including, occasionally, the hard shoulder.  On single-lane roads the hard shoulder is also sometimes used by trucks and slower moving vehicles to allow faster moving vehicles to overtake – it is regarded as a courtesy to acknowledge this, usually with a brief flash of hazard warning lights.  Four-way-stops are commonly found at the quieter intersections – the first vehicle to arrive has priority.  On roundabouts, give way to the right, although this is often overlooked and it is wise to proceed with caution.

 

Road standards are mostly very good, but some roads in the more remote areas are less well maintained and potholes may be encountered.  It is strongly recommended that you drive cautiously at all times and adhere to speed limits.  You should avoid unfamiliar rural areas at night.  Thieves have been known to employ various methods to make a vehicle stop, enabling them to rob the occupants.  One such method is the placing of large stones in the middle of the road.  In the circumstances it is prudent to carefully drive around the stones or obstacle, rather than stop the vehicle.

 

Flash flooding has damaged some roads in the Cape Provinces.  Seek local advice on which routes are best avoided.

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

 

Air Travel

 

The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community.  You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm.

For more general information see Airline Security.

Drug taking and smuggling is an offence.  The punishments can be severe.

 

Homosexuality is permitted.  South Africa has introduced legislation which bans any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

Visas

 

British nationals visiting South Africa on holiday for less than 90 days do not require visas.  After entry, extensions of stay may be sought from the Department of Home Affairs.  If you have overstayed without authority you may be required to pay a fine, either on exit or at the nearest South African mission on your return to the UK (or elsewhere).  Re-entry to South Africa will not be permitted until the fine has been paid in full.  However, serious over stayers may be arrested on departure and detained before appearing in court.  In such cases you may face a very substantial fine and then be deported at your own expense.

 

Passport validity

 

Your passports must also be valid for no less than 30 days after the end of your intended visit.

 

South Africa authorities state that officially only one blank passport page is required for entry.  But there have been reports that some South Africa officials insist on two blank pages.  We recommend you have two blank pages.

 

Travelling with children

 

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

Hospital treatment in large cities of South Africa is good but can be expensive.  Medical facilities in rural areas can be basic.  In remote areas, air evacuation is sometimes the only option for medical emergencies.

TB, rabies, malaria and cholera are common to South Africa.  Malaria is common to Kruger Park and parts of Mpumalanga, Limpopo province and KwaZulu Natal (particularly the Wetlands area around St Lucia).

There are periodic outbreaks of cholera in the poor communities of rural South Africa, especially in Northern KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces. There has been an outbreak of cholera across the Limpopo region,, flowing from the major outbreak at Beigbridge on the Zimbabwe/South Africa border.  An increase in the number of acute diarrhoea cases have also been reported, including some in other provinces.  Travellers to Limpopo are advised to familiarise themselves with precautions needed to avoid cholera, in particular to drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.  If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to South Africa you should seek immediate medical attention.  Further guidance can be found at:  http://www.nathnac.org/travel/factsheets/cholera.htm

Measles outbreaks occur from time to time in Kwa Zulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 5,400,000 adults aged 15 or over in South Africa were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 18.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to South Africa and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre  (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

Insurance

 

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling, including cover for medical evacuation.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake, especially extreme adventure sports or wildlife activities.  Remember that failure to declare a medical condition could render a policy invalid.  For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

 

Money

There is a high incidence of credit card fraud and fraud involving ATM's.  Users of ATM's should be vigilant to ensure their PIN number is not observed by others when withdrawing money.  Offers of assistance from bystanders should be refused.  Do not change large sums of money in busy public areas.

Closely protect any documents containing details of credit card, PIN numbers and bank accounts.

Contact Details

British High Commission, Pretoria

Consular Section:

Liberty Life Place,
Block B,
256 Glyn Street,
Hatfield,
Pretoria 0083

Postal Address:
PO Box 13611 or 13612,
Hatfield, 0028

Telephone enquiries:
(Local time): Mon-Thur: 07:45-15:45; Fri: 07:45-13:00;
(GMT): Mon-Thur: 05:45-13:45; Fri: 05:45-11:00.

Visa Section:

Tel: 012 421 7082;
Fax: 012 421 7888;
E-mail: Visa Enquiries

Opening hours:
(Local): Mon-Thur: 07:45-12:00; Fri: 07:45-11:00;
(GMT): Mon-Thur: 05:45-10:00; Fri: 05:45-09:00

Passport Section:

Enquiries:
Tel: 012 421 7801;
Fax: 012 421 7877;
E-mail: Passport Enquiries

Website: http://www.britain.org.za/

Opening hours:
(Local): Submission only: Mon-Thurs: 08:00-12:00; Fri: 08:00-10:30;

Collection only: Mon-Thurs: 13:00-15:00; Fri: 11:00-13:00.

We reserve the right to close the waiting room earlier during busy periods for safety reasons and to enable us to process applications on the day.

British Consulate-General, Capetown

15th Floor,
Southern Life Centre,
Riebeck Street,
Cape Town 8001

Postal Address:
British Consulate-General,
PO Box 500,
Cape Town 8000

Office Hours:
(Local): Mon-Thur: 08:00-12:30 and 13:15-16:30; Fri: 08:00-13:30;
(GMT): Mon-Thur: 06:00-10:30 and 11:15-14:30; Fri: 06:00-11:30.

Consular/Passport Enquiries:

Tel (Switchboard): 021 405 2400;
Fax (Consular): 021 405 2449;
E-mail: Consular/Passport Enquiries

Visa/Passport Section:

Opening hours:
(Local): Mon-Thur: 09:00-15:00; Fri: 09:00-12:30;
(GMT): Mon-Thur: 07:00-13:00; Fri: 07:00-10:30.

Please note that only emergency passports can be issued in Cape Town.  All other passport enquiries should be directed to Consular Section of the British High Commission in Pretoria.