I'm meant to go to Johannesburg for work in a couple of months. I don't want to go, don't want to be shot or have my arms cut off with a machete. Am I being alarmist. Anyone been, is it really so bad. Safety tips?

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Harrow said..
I'm meant to go to Johannesburg for work in a couple of months. I don't want to go, don't want to be shot or have my arms cut off with a machete. Am I being alarmist. Anyone been, is it really so bad. Safety tips?

Do not stop at lights or stop signs outside of the city
Buy a flame thrower

If your going for/with your workplace then they surely have some decent relationship with business over there, talk to the locals who live & work there.

Armed body guard or don't get on the plane.

You neeed and must have a gun and know how to use it and/or an armed bodyguard/driver who is on more than 20 bucks a day and knows the lay off the land,,, really pays to make sure you buy your driver lunch and a pack of smokes every day ( for real..........)
I once went to India had armed driver and an ambulance had to go through to right near the boarder,,, the fella I went with ( Indian guy) made me sit in the front seat which was very nice of him,,, until every checkpoint we got too 16-18 year olds would point semi automatics at the car as you pulled up for "paper " checks ( bribe and passport check) the best thing is after being there for a couple days I looked through the ambulance drawers and there was as many rifles as there was medical equipment...... aaah fun times

anyhow joburg they get you at the lights when it's red,, don't stop this is why you want a driver,,, there favourite trick is to pretend they are about to jack you with guns and you drive the red than their mates t bone you in a stolen car and knock you all out than the real fun begins.............
a good armed driver is needed this is not a game

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Harrow said..
I'm was meant to go to Johannesburg for work in a couple of month, however, Jo'burg is so dangerous even the killers wont go out after dark

I decided to use skype instead.

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Razzonater said..
I once went to India had armed driver and an ambulance had to go through to right near the boarder,,, the fella I went with ( Indian guy) made me sit in the front seat which was very nice of him,,, until every checkpoint we got too 16-18 year olds would point semi automatics at the car as you pulled up for "paper " checks ( bribe and passport check) the best thing is after being there for a couple days I looked through the ambulance drawers and there was as many rifles as there was medical equipment...... aaah fun times

anyhow joburg they get you at the lights when it's red,, don't stop this is why you want a driver,,, there favourite trick is to pretend they are about to jack you with guns and you drive the red than their mates t bone you in a stolen car and knock you all out than the real fun begins.............
a good armed driver is needed this is not a game

I just spent two weeks in India for work. Went for long walks on my own every night, just as I normally do when travelling for work. Spent a few hours wandering the backstreets and alleys of Old Delhi after dark and never felt unsafe - maybe I'm just ignorant.

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Harrow said..

Razzonater said..
I once went to India had armed driver and an ambulance had to go through to right near the boarder,,, the fella I went with ( Indian guy) made me sit in the front seat which was very nice of him,,, until every checkpoint we got too 16-18 year olds would point semi automatics at the car as you pulled up for "paper " checks ( bribe and passport check) the best thing is after being there for a couple days I looked through the ambulance drawers and there was as many rifles as there was medical equipment...... aaah fun times

anyhow joburg they get you at the lights when it's red,, don't stop this is why you want a driver,,, there favourite trick is to pretend they are about to jack you with guns and you drive the red than their mates t bone you in a stolen car and knock you all out than the real fun begins.............
a good armed driver is needed this is not a game

I just spent two weeks in India for work. Went for long walks on my own every night, just as I normally do when travelling for work. Spent a few hours wandering the backstreets and alleys of Old Delhi after dark and never felt unsafe - maybe I'm just ignorant.

My brother lives there.

Like anywhere where there is a heap of poverty you need to take a lot of care which you would not necessarily normally do here. You are pretty much only going to get targeted by people who want something that you have and are prepared to take the risk of taking it from you. So don't flash phones around in public places. Don't drive a car which is desirable. I think my brother was saying that Hilux's are a very nice to have. Obviously don't flash your wallet around and if you are going to carry cash don't carry it in your wallet. The best way to get shot is to carry a gun. And a gun is a very desirable item.

Don't get pissed in public. Don't drive late at night. Don't go somewhere where there is a risk of getting lost.

It is a prick of a place in my opinion, Johannesburg. Visit for commercial purposes only. Lots of great places worth visiting within driving distance though.

Maaattteee, it's joburg, not Abuja, Luanda or Conakry.

I used to go there for work a little... and a few other countries "up in Africa" as they say in SA.

I'd read the current travel advice at DFAT.

I'd prepare a travel plan doc, which includes flight details, accommodation details, address, contact etc. I'd include the embassy address, contact deets and it's opening hours. I'd also include the nearest hospital location and contact deets, as well as emergency contacts.

I'd assess travel risks whilst getting around. Are you hiring a car or a driver with car?

I'd also include an assessment of high risk items and what to do.

Then there's the obvious stuff. Don't walk around at night - especially if pissy, don't be flashy with all your stuff. Stay out of high risk areas, particularly at night. Blend in.

Most of all, enjoy the hospitality, beer, biltong and steak.

BTW - I have driven from joburg to Kruger and hired a car in Cape Town and drove around a lot of places.

You get to know the risks and get better at it/more comfortable etc.

Worst I had was being stopped by armed gendarmerie in the middle of nowhere in Cameroon. They were giving my driver a hard time and I was sitting in the back of the car, with them having no idea I was there... I made the decision that the outcome of this situation will be no different if I stay put or get out of the car for a chat. Got out, they got a huge shock, asked to see my passport and papers and let us go on our way.

Also ran into a bit of trouble in Guinea, Angola and Zimbabwe... but it's all cool...

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japie said..

Harrow said..

Razzonater said..
I once went to India had armed driver and an ambulance had to go through to right near the boarder,,, the fella I went with ( Indian guy) made me sit in the front seat which was very nice of him,,, until every checkpoint we got too 16-18 year olds would point semi automatics at the car as you pulled up for "paper " checks ( bribe and passport check) the best thing is after being there for a couple days I looked through the ambulance drawers and there was as many rifles as there was medical equipment...... aaah fun times

anyhow joburg they get you at the lights when it's red,, don't stop this is why you want a driver,,, there favourite trick is to pretend they are about to jack you with guns and you drive the red than their mates t bone you in a stolen car and knock you all out than the real fun begins.............
a good armed driver is needed this is not a game

I just spent two weeks in India for work. Went for long walks on my own every night, just as I normally do when travelling for work. Spent a few hours wandering the backstreets and alleys of Old Delhi after dark and never felt unsafe - maybe I'm just ignorant.

My brother lives there.

Like anywhere where there is a heap of poverty you need to take a lot of care which you would not necessarily normally do here. You are pretty much only going to get targeted by people who want something that you have and are prepared to take the risk of taking it from you. So don't flash phones around in public places. Don't drive a car which is desirable. I think my brother was saying that Hilux's are a very nice to have. Obviously don't flash your wallet around and if you are going to carry cash don't carry it in your wallet. The best way to get shot is to carry a gun. And a gun is a very desirable item.

Don't get pissed in public. Don't drive late at night. Don't go somewhere where there is a risk of getting lost.

It is a prick of a place in my opinion, Johannesburg. Visit for commercial purposes only. Lots of great places worth visiting within driving distance though.

Look don't get me wrong about India loved some bits ,, vishakpantam was epic went with the lads and watched the cricket, Hyderabad was also ok had some good food went to the markets pretty cool epic people,,,, it was more within a couple hundred clicks of each border/China and Pakistan where things where more than a little different....

and joburg yeah heaps of people go there and have no problems but just as many do ,

As someone who has lived in Joburg and still has a brother in Cape Town and extended family there.
Pugwash and Yarpie are on point.
If your street wise enough to walk around India at night you should be fine. But it does take another level of awareness that most Aussie don't have to get around Joburg safely
Most likely you will be around Santon or Midrand which is reasonable safe
Do take a organised tour to Soweto and visit the museum

Main safety tip in SA:



Use a franger.

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Pugwash said..
Maaattteee, it's joburg, not Abuja, Luanda or Conakry.

Also ran into a bit of trouble in Guinea, Angola and Zimbabwe... but it's all cool...

Got stories on Abuja, Luanda, Conakry? And Guinea, Angola and Zimbabwe?
35% pa population growth... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuja

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Wollemi said..

Pugwash said..
Maaattteee, it's joburg, not Abuja, Luanda or Conakry.

Also ran into a bit of trouble in Guinea, Angola and Zimbabwe... but it's all cool...

Got stories on Abuja, Luanda, Conakry? And Guinea, Angola and Zimbabwe?
35% pa population growth... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuja

Ha ha... we could start a what went wrong in Africa thread... nothing from Abuja for me, but everywhere else on that list.

Met a former ship captain the other day, he got held captive by pirates... twice

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Pugwash said..

Wollemi said..

Pugwash said..
Maaattteee, it's joburg, not Abuja, Luanda or Conakry.

Also ran into a bit of trouble in Guinea, Angola and Zimbabwe... but it's all cool...

Got stories on Abuja, Luanda, Conakry? And Guinea, Angola and Zimbabwe?
35% pa population growth... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuja

Ha ha... we could start a what went wrong in Africa thread... nothing from Abuja for me, but everywhere else on that list.

Met a former ship captain the other day, he got held captive by pirates... twice

Why are pirates called pirates , cos they just aaarrre.
How much does a pirate pay to get an earring ......a buccaneer.
sorry

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Imax1 said..

Pugwash said..

Wollemi said..

Pugwash said..
Maaattteee, it's joburg, not Abuja, Luanda or Conakry.

Also ran into a bit of trouble in Guinea, Angola and Zimbabwe... but it's all cool...

Got stories on Abuja, Luanda, Conakry? And Guinea, Angola and Zimbabwe?
35% pa population growth... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuja

Ha ha... we could start a what went wrong in Africa thread... nothing from Abuja for me, but everywhere else on that list.

Met a former ship captain the other day, he got held captive by pirates... twice

Why are pirates called pirates , cos they just aaarrre.
How much does a pirate pay to get an earring ......a buccaneer.
sorry

Gave me a laugh

Don't talk to johngava and certainly don't buy any embalming compound powder

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Mark _australia said..
Main safety tip in SA:
Use a franger.

Or just don't sleep with the ones he has slept with lol.

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Harrow said..
I'm meant to go to Johannesburg for work in a couple of months. I don't want to go, don't want to be shot or have my arms cut off with a machete. Am I being alarmist. Anyone been, is it really so bad. Safety tips?

If you do lose both arms, can we have your windsurfers?

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Harrow said..
I'm meant to go to Johannesburg for work in a couple of months. I don't want to go, don't want to be shot or have my arms cut off with a machete. Am I being alarmist. Anyone been, is it really so bad. Safety tips?

Skype?

I visited for work about 8 years ago. Drove myself around. Unless it's got significantly worse, you'll be fine as long as you follow the sensible advice others have given. Be aware, don't be a target.