Johannesburg - Africa's Crime Capital

RM and I arrived in Jo-burg (everyone here calls it that) this morning after an 8am flight flight from East London. The alternative was to take the bus (14hrs) so we decided instead to eat the $40 difference and enjoy a night of good sleep in East London.

The sleep at the Sugar Shack (our hostel in East London) was mediocre thanks to the thumping dance beats that rattled the floor from the club-restaurant-pub just a few feet from our building. Regardless it was much better than what we'd expect from 14hrs on the greyhound.

Jo-burg is a bit of a culture shock, even after over 2 weeks in Africa. If you've seen 'Back to the Future 2' its a bit like the apocalypitc 1985 which develops after the young Bif gets his hands on the betting playbook. Stores are abandoned, once public streets are shut off with razor wire and 12 foot gates, and each house advertises for a different private security firm which promises an 'Armed Response' (ie, enter and you will get shot). All you need is a bandeler wearing Mr. Strickland and the set would be complete.

Fortunately, RM and I are only here for another 11 hours, and our hostel is behind a 10 foot spiked fence with two layers of security gates. With no crime sitings or stories as of yet, its hard to know if the culture of fear here is founded or just a self-perpetuating perception. If you're still curious, here is a link to a BBC article on the "The Most Dangerous City in Africa"