Crime

[ches]

1. Does it really matter what color the criminal's skin is? Is not the threat of rape/murder/mugging by a white person equally off-putting?

2. So what if the majority of crime in South Africa is by black people? The majority of South Africans are black, it kind of goes without saying. In fact, if only 70% of crime is by black people, who make up ~80% of the population, then if you want to draw some kind of racist conclusion it would be that black people are less criminally inclined than are people of more muted flesh tone.

3. For the sake of others, I'd like to point out that South Africa is not on the US Department of State's current travel warnings list. I always advise people to avoid Johannesburg like the plague and there are international flights into other airports, like Cape Town International.

CRIME: Although the vast majority of visitors complete their travels in South Africa without incident, visitors should be aware that criminal activity, often violent, occurs routinely. Notwithstanding government anti-crime efforts, violent crimes such as armed robbery, carjacking, mugging, "smash and grab" attacks on vehicles, and other incidents are regularly reported by visitors and resident Americans. - South Africa

I wish you happy travels, Rache.

[rach2005]

in the US, El Paso and Detroit are very comparable and similar cities in population, income and poverty level.

El Paso:
average income: 32,124 USD
below poverty line: 22.2%
white: 76.6%
black american: 3.12%
El Paso, Texas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Detroit:
average income: 29,526 USD
below poverty line: 21.7%
black american: 82.70%
white: 12.26%
Detroit, Michigan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



City Crime Rankings by Population Group

yet El Paso is rated as the SECOND SAFEST city in America, while Detroit is rated the MOST DANGEROUS city in America. Explain this to me, since you have said before that it is more about education and economics than about race. EL paso and Detorit are pretty evenly matched in this area, so why is that the city with mostly blacks is much more dangerous than a city with very similiar stats, accept that it is mostly white?

[ches]

So are you saying that black people are genetically predisposed to commit crime?

[Moonwalker]

Originally Posted by rach2005

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=71513

I'm cancelling my plans for a holiday in South Africa. its a real shame too, it seems like such a beautiful place.

A beautifull country it certainly is, but ....your life could be at risk if you do not know the area you are travelling in
Having made this statement, it is still quite a safe country to travel , irrespective of the dangers

[rach2005]

well as my obbsession with Africa probably will not go away, and by saying I would not go, is probably just more out of confusion, and just not sure what to do, I will probably still end up going. But I was reading something today, and probably just shows some of my not wanting to think about it, but then it did come to me, that the US can also be a violent place and precausions have to be taken here as well.

Apparently there were 19,202 murders in South Africa between April 1, 2006, and March 31, 2007. During the same period here in the US there were 16,912 murders, so its really not that much different.

I just have to keep researching.

[ches]

Originally Posted by rach2005

well as my obbsession with Africa probably will not go away, and by saying I would not go, is probably just more out of confusion, and just not sure what to do, I will probably still end up going. But I was reading something today, and probably just shows some of my not wanting to think about it, but then it did come to me, that the US can also be a violent place and precausions have to be taken here as well.

Apparently there were 19,202 murders in South Africa between April 1, 2006, and March 31, 2007. During the same period here in the US there were 16,912 murders, so its really not that much different.

I just have to keep researching.

Why don't you go to Namibia instead? Soususvlei for the amazing red dunes, Etosha Pan for the wildlife, Fish River Canyon (well maybe a bit boring compared to the Grand Canyon), Skeleton Coast, diamond mining ghost towns...

[rach2005]

I have thought about Nambia, as well as Zambia, and Tanzania. The only problem with Tanzania is various vaccinations that are required or recomended, like for malaria when I go on a safari. On the otherhand, South Africa is considered a malaria free zone, its also a very developed country, and one that I have always wanted to go to. I am very intrested in the western cape and the wine region, and the garden route. In South Africa I can do a safari, and expereince a city like Cape Town, etc..

Travel South Africa - African Safaris and Game Lodges - Eastern Cape - Hotels - Big 5 Malaria free - Accommodation