For example:
“Oh my god, be careful of the violence.”
“My Dad was attacked there.”
“You can never be alone.”
“Don’t be surprised if your luggage is stolen in the taxi. That happened to my friend. "

A lot of fear mongering over a good few weeks, and I won't lie, I was spooked. The nerves and worries were natural, and the picture of my two weeks abroad was now illustrated to be tucked away in the house, making trips out scarce.

There are some "bad" areas you should avoid. The crimes are what you could expect anywhere else. I recommend sticking to the places most people would go to. Keep valuables safe, and watch out for snatch-and-grabs.

South Africans love having guests in their country, especially a pack of Kiwis. It wasn’t frightening or coerced to believe. South Africa is bright, colourful, and filled with life. I didn’t feel unsafe for a moment. Rather than being targets, we were welcomed with open arms.

It’s a shame this country and its cities have such a bad name. I genuinely have never seen anything quite like it. I was moved by the raw beauty of graffitied townships, alive with music and culture pouring into their food and art.

The town has a rich diversity in culture, history, and environment, not usually found in one place.