Crime in Johannesburg, South Africa

Crime rates in Johannesburg, South Africa

Level of crime
89.71 Very High
Crime increasing in the past 3 years
81.24 Very High
Worries home broken and things stolen
79.37 High
Worries being mugged or robbed
81.98 Very High
Worries car stolen
78.25 High
Worries things from car stolen
81.63 Very High
Worries attacked
75.72 High
Worries being insulted
63.52 High
Worries being subject to a physical attack because of your skin color, ethnic origin, gender or religion
65.91 High
Problem people using or dealing drugs
71.84 High
Problem property crimes such as vandalism and theft
83.01 Very High
Problem violent crimes such as assault and armed robbery
88.63 Very High
Problem corruption and bribery
92.23 Very High

Safety in Johannesburg, South Africa

Safety walking alone during daylight
30.18 Low
Safety walking alone during night
8.85 Very Low

Contributors: 817

Last update: September 2023

These data are based on perceptions of visitors of this website in the past 3 years.

If the value is 0, it means it is perceived as very low, and if the value is 100, it means it is perceived as very high.

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26 Comments so far
Mike on Aug 05, 2023:
Cape Town is the murder capital of South Africa, this is acknowledged by everybody. I've commented on here a number of times in the past and South Africa has very accurate data compared to many countries which is why it looks so high, but Cape Town remains the murder cap so I'm unsure of what it is you're referring to there.

Johannesburg has gotten worse somewhat but it's still a way off CT.
Brent on Jun 18, 2023:
65/100 of the world's most violent cities are in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. Normally it's 75/100 but due to the war in Ukraine this has decreased somewhat.

Laughably, Mogadishu, Kandahar, Bangui, Goma, Port-au-Prince and Baghdad had higher homicide rates (on top of political violence) than San Pedro Sula, San Salvador and Tijuana in their so-called 'murder capital' years experts have confirmed. You won't see this kind of thing in the media. Saying Africa and the ME are more violent than LatAm is boring because everybody already knows it, so instead of using sound sources like Crisis24 or the US DoS they conveniently employ these go-to cranks from Mexico and Brazil who want their cities and countries to top the lists by making carefully managed rankings to make them look so. It's a myth the latter cities stated above ever had the world's highest homicide rates. The damage has, unfortunately, been done.

I'm forgetting this is about Johannesburg and wanted to offer some commentary on African cities but @Anonymous on Jan 21, 2023....you're correct about South Africa but you forgot the Eastern Cape which has also suffered a spike in violence and murder. Port Elizabeth is the murder capital of the country I believe. Durban may have surpassed Cape Town as well. I'll email the guy who provided the information, he's normally very solid and I thought that's what he said in a phone call.
Anonymous on May 22, 2023:
South Africa is a beautiful place with beautiful people, if you could get rid of crime and corruption it would be heaven on earth.
Anonymous on Jan 21, 2023:
Africa has the highest criminal violence rate in the world but that's mainly across it's middle where it's most prevalent.

"The Middle East and Africa share the ignominious distinction of being the world's most violent regions, with the ME shading violence risk not falling under traditional crime and Africa leading criminal homicide. The magnitude of the problem is staggering and persistent. Of the top 100 most violent cities in the world, 70 are in sub-Saharan Africa and MENA."

Regarding Jo'burg (and KZN), it's the worst it's been for many years.
MILA GIGANTI CURCHOD on Sep 03, 2022:
South Africa was once a very beautiful country. Apartheid alias Separate Development was condemend - however, many round the world wish to have "self determination". In fact, many have already got it: e.g. Catalans. After the Goverment of Mr N. Mandela and Thabo Mbeki well, corruption started at the top. Little has been done to improve the quality of life of the black majority. Actually, the public sector is in tangible decadence. Many hospitals are non-operational and/or have no proper facilities. Unemployment rates go up making impossible for many to survive. Slowly but surely, S.Africa is becoming another "African nation" despite its many valuable resources. Peple live in fear (due to the rampant crime) and, even going for walks or having a picnic in the outdoors is not even safe. Many have left and not only the white population but, those who wanted, could and can. Cry the beloved country!
Anonymous on May 07, 2022:
What creates crime is obscene levels of ineqauality and white people thinking they are better than everyone. I hope black people drive them into the sea
Anonymous on May 07, 2022:
@Anonymous 4 dec , most African countries have very low levels of crime . Are they still lower than humans even there ?
MILA GIGANTI CURCHOD on Mar 04, 2022:
South Africa has not become a better place to live since the take over of the ANC.
After the leadership of Mr Nelson Mandela and Mr Thabo Mbeki, we have seen more corruption and crime than ever.
Many had no other option but to leave the beloved country.
Black leaders seem to forget very quickly all the promises made to improve the life of their own brothers and sisters.
A minority of the population are the ones who pay tax and have to carry the rest who are mainly uneducated and live undeer deplorable conditions.
Bring more and more Africans to the cities in order to get more votes.
The ANC has shown incompetence to say the least.
There is no present and there is no future for all South Africans- regretably.
Crime is the no. 1 topic of concern by many . No job creation either. The whole public service has collapsed.
Health and Social Welfare need urgent attention but, will they get it? For you to find out.
While "aparheid" was condemned - well, it is what many people want round the planet.
Segregation is another story and NOT to be tolerated in any way.
In the meantime, we feel very sorry for those who have to live in fear behind burglar bars, cameras, and high walls which are not a real impediment to professional criminals that roam free. Sad scenario
Anonymous on Dec 04, 2021:
Any areas that have an all black population you will have crime. They are the scourge of humanity.
Anonymous on Nov 11, 2021:
@Anonymous on May 14, 2021

@potevan1 almost certainly doesn't live in Columbia. This from my own and a friends' interactions with him and his strange, defensive responses to basic 'describe where you live' Q's and the like after we became suspicious about his post history on Disqus as well as Twitter. Hoax account all over. Simply ask him to properly describe where he lives lol
Anonymous on Jul 18, 2021:
Johannesburg makes Detroit look a like a thriving city.
It's that bad.
Anonymous on May 14, 2021:
Still can't believe the lengths South Africans go to to try and make their country sound scary.

I remember a Saffie called @potevan1 on Twitter who claimed he lived in Colombia when he clearly didn't.
Anonymous on Apr 18, 2021:
Lol at the guy below me, compare it with Brazil instead, now that's "basically the same".
Anonymous on Feb 03, 2021:
compared Philippines to South Africa, crime is basically the same but I can tell you the chances of being a victim are still slim
Anonymous on Feb 03, 2021:
hmm for some reason buying a car and getting an apartment is 50% cheaper in joburg than in my country, i would move there when either crime or the anc will go away
Anonymous on Jan 31, 2021:
Unless you have some extremely good reason for visit Johannesburg (family is the only reason I can think of), don't bother.

Nothing to see and exceedingly dangerous.
Seriously what's the point?
Anonymous on Jan 10, 2021:
Anonymous on Aug 21, 2018:
Any crime report (dibyendu Roy)has in your police station (Johannesburg or captown) if find this people then you find usa newjersy.

He is staying in usa newjersey
Phone no +14849518798 now he is usa citizens
Anonymous on Oct 05, 2020:
Dose the authorities know about these crimes. What are they doing about it. Was the crime rate the same before 1994 or far far lower.
Anonymous on Oct 03, 2020:
If anyone thinks Johannesburg is safe, remember that it makes Chicago look like a literal playground.
Mike on Feb 08, 2020:
Akram, Islamabad is the safest part of Pakistan. I'm also guessing you're excluding Rawalpindi, right? They're essentially the same city. Rawalpindi is a whole lot worse than the Islamabad portion.
Akram on Dec 16, 2019:
I live in Johannesburg it's the worst ever if I look at it in terms of safety and stilling anx other crimes, and I have lived in Islamabad Pakistan witch is the most safe city I have ever seen!
Mike on Nov 15, 2019:
He's forgotten Tijuana. Otherwise not bad. Johannesburg (or any South African city) is nowhere near top 10. They're that high because South Africans fantasise about standing out for bad stuff (you're reading this correctly non-South Africans) and actively and aggressively exaggerate. To be frank, Brazilian cities are way too high on this otherwise superb site as well.

The only cities that 'might' make a true global top 10 are the top 3 Fenn's got there IMO. I don't believe any of the others are close to that.
Fenn on Nov 12, 2019:
Being truthful I think it would be this out of the choices,

1. Tripoli, Libya
2. Damascus, Syria
3. Baghdad, Iraq
4. Caracas, Venezuela
5. Karachi, Pakistan
6. Lahore, Pakistan
7. San Salvador, El Salvador
8. Lagos, Nigeria
9. San Pedro Sula, Honduras
10. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Guatemala City, Nairobi and Mexico City - close but no cigar.
Anonymous on Nov 10, 2019:
@Mjava good points, apart from the USA comparison.

A special kind of nutjobbery is at play when people resort to using caps to try and impress you with how much crime and corruption (they think) they have. This is weird, very creepy stuff.

People are fooled by this index repeatedly all over the web on what is otherwise a great website.
Gracie on Oct 05, 2019:
What complete rubbish Mjava is talking. South after a is so corrupt and dangerous I will never go back. DO NOT underestimate the dangers in this country. Yes lots of people there say it’s fine but ask them can they go for a walk for an hour in Johannesburg? Remember also that when the police static’s come out on murders they only list first degree murders and not all the others that take place daily. We unfortunately had to spend a day at a police morgue and I will never forget the amount of bodies being brought in and the smell ( because the electricity was turned off for hours). I experienced racism like no where in the world here because I was white and although I was working to teach under privilege kids so many things happened to me there I constantly felt unsafe and couldn’t lead any kind of normal life. Thank god i could leave but I feel so sorry for the good people there.
Anthony on Sep 23, 2019:
Don't be fooled, crime is a HUGE problem in Joburg and SA as a whole. yes we had a bad past, but the future seems to be looking far worst as our political leaders spend most of their time trying to worm their way out of corrupt activities by having HEARINGS instead of rotting in jail. The worst part is the justice system that's so weak, criminals that commit murder are released after a few years, same applies to rapist and corrupt officials- its like the Govt. has designed a system that will help them when they eventually get caught doing wrong. Prisoners are allowed to vote, so the Govt. needs to be very "kind" to them to get that vote. Soon the prisoners vote may swing the vote to the party that takes care of them the best- How toxic is this? Our beloved country is unfortunately rotting away as some leaders proudly want to steal from you with your eyes wide open. What happened to democratic change that we all were looking forward to when Mandela was released? Why is it so difficult to rule with pride and ethical principles? Why cant we equip our youth with first class education so that they could lead us to success?