[sgt]

Not trying to downplay crime in South Africa, but I'd like to emphasize that not everyone is directly affected by crime in South Africa. The ones who have been (or the ones living in more exposed places) tend however to be more vocal about it.

[jimmydorry]

Huh? In my time there, I did not have a single work colleague or person I interacted with that had not been impacted by crime (myself included). Every single one of them lived in gated communities and worked in a gated business complex.

It boggles the mind that someone can espouse the opposite when I even was on the receiving end within my first month there and taking all reasonable precautions.

[sgt]

I meant across the whole country. Upper middle class neighborhoods in many cities can be extremely safe. I'm close to Cape Town, living in a freestanding house (i.e. not a security estate). Never been exposed to crime personally, and I've traveled to every province except NW.