The metropolitan areas surveyed were Johannesburg (1997, n=1,266); Durban (1997, n=1,884); Cape Town (1998, n=5,839); and Pretoria (1998, n=4,611). The survey results confirm that Johannesburg had the highest incidence of crime; 62 percent of all people were crime victims, compared with 59 percent in Durban, 54.6 percent in Pretoria, and 49.5 percent in Cape Town. In all four metropolitan areas, burglary was the most common crime, followed by robbery. The risk of victimization varied among the cities; factors that influenced victimization were where people lived and worked and often their socioeconomic status. In most South African cities, however, race was associated with these factors. Fear of crime was high throughout the country, with over 40 percent of people in each city reporting that they felt very unsafe at night in the areas where they live. Perceptions of the police were negative in all four cities; less than 37 percent of respondents perceived that police were doing a good job at controlling crime. Regarding what should be done about crime, in all four cities the majority of people called for more and better policing, followed by harsher penalties, economic development, and employment. 6 figures and 8 notes