Braamfontein

Student area with cultural sites and budget dining but serious safety concerns at night. Only visit during daylight for specific attractions like Constitutional Court. Don't stay overnight.

Braamfontein is the student area around Witwatersrand University (Wits), with the Constitutional Court and Nelson Mandela Bridge. Gentrification has brought trendy cafes, new restaurants, and music venues alongside traditional student hangouts. The Playground rooftop market and The Artivist bar-restaurant show the area's transformation. During the day, the area is busy with students and relatively safe near the university. After dark is a different story - there are serious problems with gender-based violence, theft, robberies, and assaults, especially affecting students. The city launched crime prevention in 2021 but issues continue. The student focus means affordability - budget eateries and cheaper accommodation attract backpackers. You can get here by Uber, Bolt, or the Rea Vaya bus system students use. Only visit during daylight hours, stay near the university and main streets, and don't walk around after dark. English is widely spoken because of international students. Only come for specific daytime activities like seeing the Constitutional Court, then leave before evening. Don't stay here overnight.