South Africa is a breathtaking country with diverse communities, immaculate landscapes, affordable living costs, and rich heritage. Yet, so many citizens choose to leave the country in search of greener pastures. Improved safety and security remains the number one reason South Africans emigrate to countries like the UK, Australia, and Canada. It is especially heartbreaking to see our friends and family depart, knowing that we as South Africans have so much to celebrate. For those that choose to stay and enjoy our beautiful country, there are safe places in South Africa to live. If your lease is coming to an end or you are pursuing new opportunities in South Africa, then this list can help you pick the perfect place to start your new adventure.
Primarily, this list features small towns with well-knit communities that exercise their safety through caution, community WhatsApp groups, and neighbourhood watches. Living in these neighbourhoods is not free of risk, but the suburbs are particularly known for their safety and security.
Plettenberg Bay, George, Knysna | The Garden Route
The Garden Route offers one of the most spectacular drives in South Africa. The floral reserve shows off its colourful blossoms to travellers passing through on their trip to Cape Town or residents in the safe neighbourhoods sprinkling the seaboard. Plettenberg Bay, George, and Knysna are popular places to relocate to as they provide a combination of sleepy seaside ambience and busy community spirit. Furthermore, crime statistics reveal that they offer moderate activity in comparison with other dangerous South African cities. Out of the three locations, George appears to be the safest, followed by Plettenberg Bay and then Knysna.
Cape Saint Francis | Eastern Cape
The quiet coastal town of Cape Saint Francis is a thriving getaway destination for honeymooners, families, and South Africans wishing to relocate to a safer town in the Eastern Cape. Its beaches provide a beautiful place to stroll and soak up the South African sunshine, and the seaboard offers some of the best surfing in the country. Just around the corner from Cape Saint Francis is Port Elizabeth, a large city that is statistically safer than Pretoria, Durban, Johannesburg, and Pietermaritzburg, according to the latest crime statistics. South Africans that move to Cape Saint Francis can shoot to PE for all of their essentials or a day-tour of city landmarks, markets, and historic sites.
Camps Bay, Clifton | Cape Town
According to the statistics above, Cape Town’s high crime rates are largely due to gang-related violence. Furthermore, the same report states that Cape Town is far safer than Durban, Pretoria, and Johannesburg. One should note, contrary to articles that have claimed Cape Town to be the most dangerous city in South Africa, that the majority of criminal activity occurs in specific areas. Camps Bay and Clifton are among the towns that are not prone to extreme violence. You can refer to this resource for clarity on Cape Town’s safe and dangerous suburbs. Those that choose Camps Bay or Clifton as their home will be rewarded with some of the hottest properties in South Africa. Panoramic views of the sparkling Atlantic Seaboard, backdrops of the towering Twelve Apostles, and access to the trendiest towns on the Western Cape peninsula ensure that Camps Bay and Clifton are among the two best destinations to live in the country.
Umhlanga, Umdloti, Ballito | KwaZulu-Natal
Durban city may not be a prime destination to move to if safety and security is front of mind, but, just a stone’s throw away is the sublime coastal towns of Umhlanga, Umdloti, and Ballito. They have seen an influx of investment to modernize amenities and grow their tourism industries. As a result, security measures have improved. Furthermore, Ballito and other neighbouring towns like Salt Rock have shown their resilience in the face of crime during the riots. The designation of neighbourhood watch teams and establishment of community WhatsApp groups keep the neighbours in contact and updated on criminal activity. In terms of data, Ballito’s crime statistics are far lower than in several other South African suburbs.
Stay Even Safer with Secura in these Safe Places in South Africa
The Secura mobile panic app provides comprehensive security coverage in these destinations, and throughout South Africa. Secura partners with private armed response security teams in all of these areas, and across all nine provinces to ensure that individuals can feel safe and secure regardless of the suburb that they live in. The Secura mobile panic app also boasts a brand new coverage feature to check access to security across the country at any time and at any place. Click here to check your safety coverage with Secura at any destination in South Africa or download the Secura mobile panic app for access to our extensive armed response network at the push of a button.
