Safety in Pretoria - South Africa

Hi Amit

Have a look at the general Safety in South Africa page and especially at similar threads on this forum here and here.

As someone who has lived in both Pretoria and Johannesburg as well as other cities in South Africa in the past I can tell you that much of the advice applies all over the country: generally speaking no, you cannot walk around at night except for a few areas where there is an active nightlife, lots of restaurants etc. There are many places it isn't even a good idea to walk around during the day. However, this is true for cities all over the world - perhaps just a little more true for cities in South Africa! It's not like you'll be a prisoner in your own house - most expats find they will need a car to get around, but there are parks, markets, etc you can go to in addition to the usual malls and so on. You will just need to learn how to keep yourself safe by not walking around alone displaying signs of obvious wealth, keeping your car and house locked at all times, and so on. I can't promise nothing bad will happen to you - but I can tell you that many people manage to live in South Africa without any problems just by following some common sense safety rules. Pretoria is safer than Johannesburg, but it depends on what area you live in.

The lifestyle in South Africa is great - good weather and lots of beautiful scenery makes for a culture that appreciates good times with friends. Pretoria is not as hedonistic as Cape Town but you will find a lot of cultural attractions in the area, especially if you are willing to drive through to Johannesburg.

There is a detailed article on the cost of living in South Africa which applies to Pretoria as well. You should find everything you need there but if you have any other questions please feel free to ask!

Good luck with your move. :)

Pretoria is a beautiful city, and as the heart of the diplomatic community in South Africa, there are many foreigners living in the city. Safety in Pretoria is no different to the safety situation in South Africa in general. I'd say it may be a bit safer than Joburg, but teh key is awareness - know your surroundings, be careful when driving at night, and ensure you have adequate home security in place. The best option would be to find a home in a secure housing complex, which has access control.

There are also plenty of good schools in the city so when the time comes for your daughter to go to school, this should not be a problem. South Africans enjoy an active outdoors lifetstyle so depending on your personal interests, it shouldn't be too difficult to find fun family activities on the weekends...

Hi Amit,

I have to agree with all of the above. I get questions about safety all the time from prospective expats moving to South Africa, mostly because there is so much negative information out there. I don't want to sound gleeful but I sometimes have to laugh when I hear from people who have recently moved away from South Africa, only to have their house broken into in Germany or Australia. 

There are many of us expats living a wonderful life here in South Africa, giving a lot for a chance to stay here for many more years rather than being sent back.  Living here is one of the best kept secrets, because of all the negative press. But yes, you do have to be mindful of some basic security precautions, and living in a security estate is not just great for safety but also a nice lifestyle in general. Never have I once felt in any way restricted in my movements or like a prisoner in my own home. We have four children, and we would not have moved here (or stayed here) if we had felt it was in any way dangerous for them.

Life in SA will  never be the same as in Singapore (I have also lived there), so you won't for instance  let your kids take taxis on their own to get places, but then again you have a whole beautiful country to explore when living here, and the weather is perfect.

Good luck with your decision!

Thank you for your comments and helpful information. Sine Thieme: Thanks a lot for sharing this, Glad to know that you also stayed in Singapore. I think you can give me the best information. Can you please share some small comparison of life in singapore and Pretoria? considering Safety, Independence for childreen (to play outdoor or hang out with friends alone), Accomodation and lifestyle. Again thanks a lot for help.. You can also email on [email protected]

Hi Amit,

It's been 12 years and our kids were small. But the biggest difference is that here you will live most likely in a security estate where there is only one way in and out and that is guarded, fences around everything else. Inside that estate, you will be totally free to move and like I said, I have not missed being even more mobile, as I haven't lived in a place with public transportation in a long while.

You can go anywhwere by car, just some areas of the inner city are probably better off not going to at night. I don't know Pretoria that well as we live in Joburg, but there are many shopping centres, just like here, where there are restaurants and where you do your shopping and go for dinner. Or often you might go to friend's houses for a braai (barbecue). In fact, a lot of your social life will be shared with friends. Everyone has pools at their houses so that there is less reason to go anywhere, it's beautiful to stay right where you are!

Here in Joburg there is a place called Montecasino, an entirely indoors amusement complex with cinemas, bowling alley and shopping and restaurants, and we often drop the older kids off there to meet with friends (there is a security screening at the entrance) and then we pick them up later.

A lot of the kids' sports are through school, so you also don't have to drive around so much for that. Some people want to stay with the sports that they know and go out of their way to find a far-off location for baseball, for instance, but we have learned that the best is to take advantage of what the school offers, even if it is something new like rugby, and you'll be much happier and less stressed. 

Your house here will likely be bigger than in Singapore, and make sure you pick one that's North facing because it can get very cold in winter (though Pretoria is a tad warmer than Joburg). There is no great heating in most houses. I'd pick one with a big patio because you will spend lots of time outdoors. Most houses also  have domestic quarters and domestic help is similarly available here as in Singapore, so you will not have to change your lifestyle much in that regard.

Hope that helps. For things to do in Joburg, there is an article here somewhere in the Johannesburg section that I wrote some time back. I've also written extensively about all the above topics on my blog, www.joburgexpat.com, if you want to visit there and browse all the topics and articles. Good luck!

I need your sincere help; I have been offered a Postdoctoral Position Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria. I am currently based in India. And would like to know how safe Pretoria in South Africa to move is. My concerns are safety, lifestyle and cost of living. Most important being safety as I have heard it is not as safe as India. One cannot walk around the city and needs to be careful in Night time? Can you provide quick valid information for me to decide if I should take up the offer. As for me I would not like to relocate to a place where I am not safe for some extra $ in salary. Thank you very much. -- Thanking You Regards- Anupam Maurya Research Scholar CIMAP, Lucknow, India

Anupam, Its better than Lucknow and the climate is awesome. As for the security is concerned, even that is better than lucknow. This comes from someone who is from lucknow and had spent close to 5 years in Joburg now.

hi its milan patel hear i m trying to move in pretoria next months so can u guys tell me how is it safe for asian people?

Hi Milan,

There shouldn't be any extra safety concerns for Asians living in Pretoria. Maybe have a look at the Safety in South Africa to learn more.

Good luck.

Shantalie

Hi I have been offered a Post doc position in Tishwane university of Technology South Africa. I am concerned about the safety, life style and cost of living. Can any body give me information regarding my pints of concern. Regards Iftikhar

Hi Amit, although the country is tainted by violent crime and scams, it is generally safe if you keep alert and exercise common sense in all situations. Here are some common travel scams - Do be wary of the pickpocketing, robberies, muggings, fake tour guides, beach thefts, drink spiking, currency switcheroo, tourist prices, car pull over scam, fake airport taxi drivers, luggage theft, bogus airport employees, carjacking, car crash scams, smash and grab, ATM scams, fake police, corrupt police and many more! For a full list, you could check this out https://travelscams.org/africa/common-tourist-scams-south-africa/