{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/south-africa/bethlehem","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T18:18:32.242Z","place":{"city":"Bethlehem","country":"South Africa","countryCode":"ZA","lat":-28.23078,"lon":28.30707},"safety":{"score":48,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":38,"confidence":0.87,"caps":[],"databaseScore":49,"travellerSentiment":{"score":41,"label":"Low","summary":"Crowdsourced data indicates a low level of perceived safety, with a significant percentage of people feeling unsafe walking alone after dark.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":30,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":34,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":42,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":41,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":62,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":67,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-07-21T14:07:51Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/south-africa"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":43.7202551331462,"display":"43.7 / 100k","year":"2022","score":7,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":40.4,"display":"40.4%","year":"2007","score":26,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.1235572394897154,"display":"0.12 / million","year":"2021","score":91,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":24.5,"display":"24.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":33,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":55.3527432,"display":"55/100","year":"2024","score":55,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":57.2693915,"display":"57/100","year":"2024","score":57,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":43.9726469,"display":"44/100","year":"2024","score":44,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":46.9478119,"display":"47/100","year":"2024","score":47,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":53.9146724,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":67.4781439,"display":"67/100","year":"2024","score":67,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":91075,"display":"91k residents","year":null,"score":87,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":37,"display":"37.0%","year":"2022","score":30,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.03,"display":"0.03 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":18,"display":"18.0%","year":"2019","score":62,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":57,"display":"US AQI 57 · Moderate","year":null,"score":87,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":22.512779725,"display":"23 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2010","score":65,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":21,"display":"July: highs ~21°C · freezing temps","year":null,"score":84,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":2,"display":"High risk","year":null,"score":45,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":30,"display":"30 / 100 (Low)","year":null,"score":30,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Exercise increased caution in Bethlehem, South Africa, due to significant crime risks.","summary":"Bethlehem, South Africa, faces a high crime rate, particularly violent crime, which is a major concern for businesses and residents. While terrorism is not a primary threat, visitors should be aware of the general crime levels and take precautions.","robberyRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Violent crime, including robbery and mugging, is common and a significant concern for visitors."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching can occur in crowded areas and tourist spots."},"safeAreas":[],"avoidAreas":["Outskirts/Informal Settlements"],"scams":["Impersonation scams by individuals posing as police or officials.","Theft of belongings from unattended vehicles or in crowded areas."],"zones":[{"name":"Central Business District","level":"caution","note":"Higher foot traffic can mean more opportunities for pickpocketing and petty theft."},{"name":"Residential Areas","level":"caution","note":"Crime rates can be higher in less visible residential zones, especially after dark."},{"name":"Industrial Areas","level":"caution","note":"These areas may have less public presence and could be targets for crime."},{"name":"Outskirts/Informal Settlements","level":"avoid","note":"These areas often experience higher crime rates and may lack adequate infrastructure."},{"name":"Tourist Spots (if any)","level":"caution","note":"While generally safer, be aware of opportunistic crime targeting visitors."}]}}