Violent Attacks on Table Mountain

The ongoing robbery of and violent attacks on Table Mountain hikers warrants decisive action.

This month, two stabbing incidents were reported within a single week.

Late yesterday afternoon (13 July), another man was robbed and stabbed at Deer Park, near the Platteklip Wash House on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. This follows closely on an attack last Wednesday, when a pastor was robbed and stabbed in the arm by a group of men.

These incidents are extremely alarming, highlighting the serious safety risk hikers and visitors face at one of South Africa’s most iconic tourist destinations.

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) welcomes the multidisciplinary operations undertaken by the police, SANParks and the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement agencies.

Unfortunately, the joint operation carried out on Table Mountain this past Sunday has not stopped the attacks. This underscores the need for more intelligence-driven action to identify, track down and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The situation is compounded by the large number of international tourists who visit Table Mountain and Signal Hill every month.

Many of them are unaware of the safety risks, and quite often victims choose not to lodge criminal complaints.

This limits the police’s ability to build strong cases against repeat offenders and highlights the need for more targeted operations.

The Freedom Front Plus calls on all role players to intensify their efforts so these offenders can be brought to book.

The party also proposes that clear and accessible safety information should be provided to visitors at Cape Town International Airport and that foreign embassies should be informed so that tourists can take the necessary precautions.

In addition, the Freedom Front Plus urges hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers to remain vigilant, to avoid hiking alone whenever possible, to use popular routes and to report any suspicious activity immediately.

Hikers are encouraged to join the Take Back Our Mountains WhatsApp group to promptly report crime or suspicious activity.

Interested parties are also welcome to contact Councillor Emre Uygun.

Important Emergency Numbers:

• General emergency number: 021 480 7700
• Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR): 021 937 0300

Visitors are also encouraged to download the City of Cape Town’s emergency services app.

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