South Africa enjoys the dubious distinction of having the world's highest crime rate, as the nation's government and security control has virtually collapsed since the introduction of majority rule in 1994.
Given a choice between working as a KBR contractor in Iraq and getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars versus going to South Africa in 2010 for the World Cup, you'd be better off going to Iraq. You're less likely to die, and at least you'll go home with more money than when you left. At least in Iraq, the security forces are marginally less likely to kill you than the insurgents, whereas in South Africa, you are three times more likely to be a victim of crime at the hands of the police than at the hands of a civillian.
South Africa is the coolest country in Africa. It has some of the best surfing spots in the world. South Africa, contrary to popular to belief, is very modernized in certain areas. Big cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria(the capital), and coolest of all, Durban. Go to South Africa sometime! It's awesome!
I went to South Africa this summer and it was fucking awesome. The surfing there is incredible!!!