{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/south-africa/east-london","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:43:32.942Z","place":{"city":"East London","country":"South Africa","countryCode":"ZA","lat":-33.01529,"lon":27.91162},"safety":{"score":45,"level":"CAUTION","answer":"Caution advised","saferThanPctOfCountries":33,"confidence":0.87,"caps":[],"databaseScore":46,"travellerSentiment":{"score":38,"label":"Very Negative","summary":"Locals and visitors report a strong sense of insecurity, with a very low score for feeling safe walking alone at night and a high worry about being mugged or robbed.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":20,"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":39,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":38,"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":478676,"display":"479k residents","year":null,"score":78,"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":48,"display":"US AQI 48 · Good","year":null,"score":90,"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":26,"display":"July: highs ~26°C · strong winds","year":null,"score":82,"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":20,"display":"20 / 100 (Very Negative)","year":null,"score":20,"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":"East London, South Africa, presents significant safety concerns for travelers, requiring a high degree of caution.","summary":"The city has a high crime index and residents report feeling unsafe, particularly at night. While official advisories are not extreme, the local perception and crime statistics indicate a need for vigilance. Travelers should be aware of potential risks related to violent and property crime.","robberyRisk":{"level":"High","note":"High concern about mugging and robbery, with a high crime index and low feeling of safety at night."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Moderate risk of pickpocketing and bag-snatching, especially in crowded public spaces."},"safeAreas":["Gonubie","Beacon Bay"],"avoidAreas":["Mdantsane","Buffalo Flats"],"scams":["Theft of belongings during public transport or crowded areas.","Distraction techniques to facilitate pickpocketing or bag-snatching."],"zones":[{"name":"Central Business District (CBD)","level":"caution","note":"High crime rates, especially property crime and muggings; avoid after dark."},{"name":"Southernwood","level":"caution","note":"Generally safer than CBD but still experiences property crime; exercise vigilance."},{"name":"Gonubie","level":"safe","note":"Suburban area with lower reported crime, generally considered safe for visitors."},{"name":"Beacon Bay","level":"safe","note":"Affluent suburb, typically safe with good infrastructure."},{"name":"Mdantsane","level":"avoid","note":"High crime rates, including violent crime; avoid unless with trusted local guidance."},{"name":"Buffalo Flats","level":"avoid","note":"Significant issues with crime and social unrest; avoid."}]}}