Check out this seriously refreshing Africa site , particularly for female travellers. More numbers about crime than you can shake a stick at. Finally, visit my website which is where this is written. The election was, in a word, boring.
Some areas are worse than others.
The worst areas are the old townships, like Soweto. If you're in a dodgy area on your own, wearing a backpack, a watch and carrying a camera, you're a prime target. This will give you a chance to recover from the flight and orientate yourself. I've lived in Hillbrow for 5 years, and have been mugged twice in that time. The effect of someone physically threatening me, whilst verbally offering assistance, resulted in a paralyzing mental short-circuit.