I've used foreign chip & PIN cards many times in SA. My cards are chip & PIN, not chip & sign. Nevertheless, almost invariably, I am asked to sign the chitty after the transaction has been authorised.

When the chitty says 'No signature required', I have been known to 'sign' 'No signature required'. (It makes a change from M Mouse.)

More seriously, I noted that on check in at certain hotels - specifically City Lodge, but perhaps others - the desk clerks write down card details INCLUDING the 3-digit CVV code on the back designed specifically for card-not-present payments such as mail order and online.

So they have my name, passport number, card number and CVV number and more. Hello, identity theft! This must surely be against Visa/MC regulations.

Last time at the CL V&A, I asked them not to do this, explaining why, and they agreed. They said it was in case they needed to charge unpaid items after departure. Of course, as hotels they would be able to do that anyway without using the CVV number.

This is one aspect of using cards in SA that I do not like.