I've heard more recent reports that Durban is still a place you need to watch yourself, a friend had their (rental) car carjacked at gunpoint in a bad area and had to walk back to the rental place - through the aforementioned bad area.

The rental place were a bit funny about him loosing the car. They didn't seem to accept that if someone pointed a gun at him that he'd just give them whatever they wanted...

Jo'burg is allegedly much better though.

Hugo