Prepaid, a safe option for the World Cup?

Thousands of people from across the globe will soon be traveling to South Africa for the World Cup and personal safety will be a key concern. As an expatriate South African who regularly goes ‘home’, I’ve come up with a few pointers that may be useful in staying safe and protecting your money and your valuables. (By the way, these tips are pretty universal and common sense for any traveler in any part of the world.)

Consider the money in your pocket:

Cards are a safe and easy way to pay abroad and South Africa has an excellent infrastructure that enables you to pay almost anywhere with a card, including at petrol stations and tolls. A prepaid card is a sensible option for everyday use and will enable you to separate your holiday funds from your current account or credit facility, safeguarding these funds from unnecessary risk.

Try to limit the cards you take with you. If you have to take more than one card, take just one in your wallet at any given time while keeping the others in a safe place – if using a hotel, preferably locked up in a safety deposit box.

Separate cards from cash – that way you won’t lose everything – and limit the cash you carry to as little as possible.

Make sure you have the telephone numbers of your card provider’s emergency call centres with you to report any losses or suspected fraud.

Hold bags or wallets close to your body – although a less stylish option, a money belt/bag is still the sensible thing to carry.

When driving, keep your doors locked and the windows closed and do NOT keep handbags, mobile phones, cameras or other valuables on the seat or within sight. Stash these under the seat.

General safety tips

Photocopy your passport and drivers license and keep them in a safe place in case they are lost or stolen.

Use common sense when approached by strangers – don’t ever provide personal details.

Drive defensively on South African roads – the road culture is aggressive!

Make sure you know the route by investing in a good map or sourcing a satellite navigation device. You do not want to get lost.

Don’t walk alone at night. While rural areas are fairly safe, be vigilant in cities and in crowded places.

Be watchful, take precautions, use common sense as you would whenever you travel abroad and you should be fine. Enjoy the World Cup in a truly spectacular and welcoming South Africa or wherever you spend your summer this year.

Denise Gee