The South African government raised the safety advisory for Cape Town's Langa Khayelitsha and Gugulethu townships to Level 4 on June 9 2026. The change follows a 34 percent rise in tourist-related incidents during the first quarter. Police recorded 47 muggings involving foreign visitors between January and May.
Level 4 status requires all guided tours to employ private security and limits visits to daylight hours only. Several major operators including Intrepid and G Adventures have suspended township excursions until further notice. The Western Cape tourism board reports a 12 percent drop in bookings for June and July.
Township tours have been a staple of Cape Town itineraries since 2005 generating 45 million USD annually. Recent incidents involved ride-hailing drivers taking tourists to secondary locations. Local authorities attribute the spike to economic pressures and increased gang activity near tourist routes.
What this means for you
Cancel any pre-booked township tours and request full refunds under the new advisory terms. Stick to established attractions such as Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront which remain at Level 2. Use only hotel-arranged transport when traveling outside central tourist zones after sunset.
Install a local SIM card upon arrival for direct police contact and share live location with a trusted contact. Avoid displaying expensive camera gear or phones in public markets. Consider joining small-group wine tours in Stellenbosch instead of urban excursions.
Operators expect the advisory to be reviewed in September after winter crime data is analyzed and additional police resources are deployed.