My advice to students is that they should take their cues from their local peers. Personal Safety During Orientation, guidelines are discussed regarding basic personal safety. Rape, Sexual Harassment and Gender Issues South Africa has the highest incidence of rape in the world. There are rape counseling services in Cape Town and on campus. I would caution women who are raped about pursuing a court case, as the procedure is often very traumatic and the police are not particularly sensitive to these issues.
Sexual harassment is rampant.
Women should expect to be whistled at and have comments passed about the way they look. Normally this is as far as it goes, so by just ignoring the person and walking on, they will be fine. Some male students have had their bums pinched - normally by Colored women. Paternalism towards women is still rather excessive, but things are slowly changing. Gay, lesbian and bisexual students will find a small but active sub-culture in Cape Town.