Jamaican captain Jhaniele Fowler has had a nasty experience ahead of their opening Netball World Cup match in Cape Town, claiming she had money taken from her purse.

Playing in her fourth tournament, Fowler said it was "unsafe" in the country.

"This is so unfortunate, this place isn't safe," the 34-year-old who plays for the West Coast Fever in Australia's Super Netball, posted on Instagram.

"First they stole money from my purse, now people are trying to come in on us in our rooms. Really!"

The Jamaicans arrived at the tournament as one of the trophy favourites after winning silver at last year's Commonwealth Games.

They finished fifth at the last World Cup in Liverpool, England.

The Australian team are also in the coastal city preparing for their first match against Zimbabwe on Friday, but haven't aired any security concerns.

The Diamonds and Sunshine Girls will likely meet in the semi-finals next week if both top their pool and preliminary round matches as expected.