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Visitors Tips

Submitted by jtcadmin on Tue, 07/05/2011 - 08:39
Safety in any major global city is about awareness and common sense and Joburg is no exception.  The combination of a variety of elements – such as ensuring adequate signage, good lighting, visibile policing and surveillance of “hotspots” ensure that a city is safer for both residents and visitors.  Excellent safety guidelines and tips are widely available and distributed via hotels and tourism centres and offices.   
Wherever you are, pay attention to your surroundings and report suspicious circumstances and characters to the nearest security or police officer. The South African Police (SAP) are identifiable by blue uniforms and white cars with blue markings, while Johannesburg's Metro Police are identifiable by blue uniforms and white vehicles which feature orange markings.
  • Wear clothing to blend in and avoid obvious tourist behaviours – like dangling  a camera over your shoulder.
  • Keep valuables like cell phones out of view.
  • Avoid wearing anything flashy, including jewellery, expensive watches, eyewear, or  anything else you’d be sorry to lose.
  • Passports, travel documents, money, expensive jewellery and watches should be left in a safe place, rather than carried around. 
  • Handbags should be zipped (zip with flap-over is best). 
  • Be aware of where your handbag is at all times.
  • In open-air and pavement restaurants, avoid hanging your handbag over the back of your chair.  Rather place it under the table at your feet.
  • Keep track of your keys at all times.  Never leave them in public bathrooms,  at the hotel pool, or  unattended in a car.  Rather hand them in at the front desk.
  • Lost passports should be reported to your country embassy or consulate and the South African Police Service (SAPS) immediately .
  • Lock up as you go: even if you go down the passage for ice, close the windows and lock your hotel room door, connecting room doors and sliding patio doors. 
  • Keep a vigilant eye on your luggage and accessories, including laptops and cellphones.  Ensure that your bags are locked and preferably accompany  your porter to the room.
  • Appearances can be deceptive, as con artists are often well dressed, presentable and articulate.
  • Be cautious of sex workers and strangers on the street,  as  they could be linked to drug peddlers and muggers. 
Your money: Be extra careful 
  • Carrying cash is risky, carry less and utilise travellers cheques instead.
  • Avoid carrying all your cash and travellers cheques with you; leave what you don’t need in your room or hotel safe.
  • Make larger cash deposits in a branch (not at an ATM). 
  • If you habitually use the same ATM, vary your route to and from the ATM (criminals notice patterns, you could be observed and followed). 
  • Keep a safe distance between yourself and the person behind you when drawing money at an ATM; never show or hand your card to a stranger. 
  • Never count your money in public.
  • Write down your credit card numbers and the customer service telephone number of your bank  - or enter it into your mobile phone if you have one.
  • Separate your cash and credit cards.
  • Keep  a copy set of important documents and travelers cheque numbers. 
  • Report stolen or cards stuck or retained by the ATM to your bank immediately
Driving and parking safely
  • Keep car windows closed and doors locked when driving around. 
  • Never leave valuables in sight when parking your car.  Wwhen using valet parking, only give the attendant your car key. 
  • Traffic lights are rife with opportunists, so keep handbags, cell phones and other potential items out of sight. Smash-and-grab thieves  are known to smash car windows, grabbing valuables which they’ve spotted, before running away. However, keep perspective, as not every person at a traffic light is a thief.
  • For help on the road, call:
  1. Metro Emergency Rescue Service 10177
  2. SA Police Emergency 10111
  3. Vodacom Emergency 147
  4. MTN Emergency 112 
  • If you have nowhere else to keep your valuables, lock your laptop, jackets and other pricey items in the boot (trunk) of your car.
  • Tip casual parking guards R2 (or more ), but only upon return to your car. 
  • Never stop for or pick up hitchhikers. 
General Tips
  • Carry a good guidebook and map. 
  • Keep a charged cell phone with you.
  • Lock luggage and label it clearly .
  • Keep shopping receipts for reclaiming VAT (compulsory 14% tax) at airports. 
  • It is unsafe to walk around unprotected at night; stay clear completely of dark and isolated places. 
Mini directory 
Emergency and useful numbers (dialled locally)
 
All life threatening emergencies 
  • Ambulance 10177 (Free landline call)
  • SA Police Emergency 10111 (Free landline call)
  • Metro Emergency Rescue Service 10177 (Free landline call)
  • For difficulties with emergency calls:
  • Ambulance, Fire or Police 1022 (Free call from landline only)
  • Child Emergency 0800 123 321      
  • Hospitals Emergency Connect (011) 375 5911    
  • AA Roadside Rescue Emergencies 082 16 111

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