A DEN OF INIQUITY?

This report by the Institute for Security Studies details a focused household survey of 200 residents across 10 residential hotels in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. The study examines the prevalence of crime, drug trafficking, prostitution, and the experiences of foreign migrants and female residents in these hotels, which are identified as significant crime hotspots.

• Residential hotels in Hillbrow are major hubs for narcotics arrests; in a five-month period in 2000, Hillbrow accounted for more than 25% of all non-cannabis drug arrests within the Johannesburg policing area.
• Drug availability is widespread across the surveyed hotels, with respondents specifically identifying dagga, Mandrax, and crack cocaine as available, while one person mentioned ecstasy.
• Prostitution is prevalent in these hotels, with 75% of respondents stating women sell sex in their building. Among female residents, 27% admitted to engaging in prostitution, often driven by unemployment, with 79% stating they would quit if offered a job in a fast food restaurant.
• Foreign nationals, particularly young Nigerian men of the Ibo ethnic group, constitute a significant portion of the hotel population. These migrants face high levels of violence, with 62% reporting assaults by local residents due to their foreign status and over 75% of Nigerians reporting robberies in central Johannesburg in the past year.
• Corruption within law enforcement is a noted issue; 21% of all respondents claimed police had asked them for money, and 43% of foreign nationals reported being asked for bribes by South African authorities.
• Despite the dangers, most foreign residents view South Africa positively; 73% would recommend the country to their compatriots, and 58% wish to stay as long as possible.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2002). A DEN OF INIQUITY? https://issafrica.org/01-nov-2002-sacq-no-2/a-den-of-iniquity

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. A DEN OF INIQUITY? 2002. https://issafrica.org/01-nov-2002-sacq-no-2/a-den-of-iniquity.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=A DEN OF INIQUITY? |date=1 November 2002 |url=https://issafrica.org/01-nov-2002-sacq-no-2/a-den-of-iniquity |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2002den, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{A DEN OF INIQUITY?}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2002}, month = nov, url = {https://issafrica.org/01-nov-2002-sacq-no-2/a-den-of-iniquity}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }