{"id":827296,"date":"2025-06-07T19:29:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-07T17:29:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=827296"},"modified":"2025-06-07T19:36:30","modified_gmt":"2025-06-07T17:36:30","slug":"united-states-warns-about-violent-crime-kidnappings-and-terrorist-attacks-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/827296\/united-states-warns-about-violent-crime-kidnappings-and-terrorist-attacks-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"United States warns about violent crime, kidnappings, and terrorist attacks in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The United States has warned its citizens to exercise extreme caution when travelling to South Africa due to violent crime, kidnappings, and terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States\u2019 Department of State issued this warning in a South African travel advisory on 27 May 2025. Its purpose is to protect the lives and serve the interests of U.S. citizens abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The level 2 travel alert informed Americans to exercise increased caution in South Africa due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cViolent crime is common and includes robbery, rape, carjacking and mugging. There are also “smash-and-grab” attacks on vehicles,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It explained that violent crime is more common in the downtown areas of big cities, especially after dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It added that kidnapping is a threat in South Africa. \u201cKidnappers target U.S. citizens and other foreign travellers to steal money,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCaptors often force victims to withdraw cash or give online account passwords before they are let go. Though rare, some kidnappings involve demanding ransom from families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department of State further warned that there is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity, in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another concern is demonstrations, protests, and strikes, which the travel advisory said occur frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese protests can start suddenly, interrupt traffic, transportation, and other services, and turn violent,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to these risks, U.S. government employees working in South Africa must obtain special authorisation to travel to many informal settlements in and around Cape Town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cU.S. mission staff must use fully armoured vehicles when visiting and visiting hours are limited to 10:00 -15:00 weekdays only,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It added that Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban are critical-threat locations for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has included a Crime \u201cC\u201d Indicator on the Travel Advisory for South Africa, indicating that there may be widespread violent crime and organized crime present in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Department of State added that South Africa\u2019s law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Department of State\u2019s advice to its citizens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The U.S. Department of State said violent crime remains an ever-present threat in South Africa and impacts people where they live, work, shop, and while in transit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common crimes include murder, rape, armed robbery, carjacking, home invasion, property theft, smash and grab, and ATM robbery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armed robbery is the most prevalent major crime in South Africa, most often involving organised gangs armed with handguns and knives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It added that smash and grabs, carjackings, financial and identity theft crimes, kidnappings, and terrorism also pose a threat to travellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Department of State told its citizens who decide to travel to South Africa to exercise caution, which include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n