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Latest tourist mugging prompts question ahead of festive season, how safe is Table Mountain really?

Latest tourist mugging prompts question ahead of festive season, how safe is Table Mountain really?
A heat map depicting crime in Table Mountain National Park for 2019–2024. (Image: FOTM)
Nicola Amon
By Nicola Amon
28 Nov 2024
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The recent mugging of two German tourists has once again brought into question the effectiveness of SANParks’ efforts to combat crime in Table Mountain National Park. Although park authorities claim that crime has seen a significant decline, concerns remain of another spike during the festive season. 

The recent attack of two German tourists, reported by News24, has again raised the question whether efforts to combat crime in the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) are having any real effect.

South African National Parks (SANParks) confirmed that the hikers were attacked near Echo Valley in the vicinity of Kalk Bay. One of the tourists was wounded and treated on the scene by paramedics. 

SANParks’ Safety and Security Forum was reintroduced in 2023 in response to a spike in crime in the TMNP. According to SANParks, its collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the City of Cape Town (CoCT) has been “successful” in decreasing crime.

“It has proven to be a valuable and successful intervention,” SANParks head of communication JP Louw said, adding that the total number of incidents reported during 2024 so far – 54 – is markedly lower compared to the 152 incidents reported in the same period in 2023.

tmnp figures

Read more: Table Mountain muggings continue despite intensified safety and security measures

“We are mainly receiving single-digit monthly reports as opposed to previous double digits,” he said.

While unable to confirm the validity of these numbers, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie from the SAPS said: “We can confirm that there had been a significant decline in reported crime committed in and around the mentioned area.”

Collaborative stance on safety


“Contributing to the decline and the reinforcement of trust in the community and international tourists is the integrated approach to combat crime holistically through the cooperation of different partners such as the SAPS, City of Cape Town, Law Enforcement, Metro Police, SANParks, neighbourhood watch structures and Table Mountain volunteers,” Pojie said.

JP Smith, the City’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, said SANParks and SAPS are the leading agencies mandated to ensure mountain safety. In addition, the City has dedicated staff patrolling from 4am to 8pm and will be deploying 800 cadets from 1 December 2024 as part of its festive season plan.

“The tourism deployment consists of 66 law enforcement officers, 14 Metro Police and 14 traffic officers split across two shifts,” Smith said.

SANParks’ Louw said the Table Mountain National Park Volunteer Safety Services, announced on 4 November 2024, marks the start of a partnership with civil society organisations to improve response to crime. 

Citizens await tangible impact


Local hiking guide Maretha Uys said that despite the decrease in crime figures, she still has concerns that Table Mountain will see another surge in crime ahead of the high tourist season – a pattern she has observed throughout her years as a hiker and guide.

 

Table Mountain crime A heat map depicting crime in Table Mountain National Park from 2019-2024. (Image: Friends of Table Mountain)



Uys said she recently had to postpone a hike up the Woody Buttress trail because of several incidents reported in the Cape Town hiking guides’ WhatsApp group. “I contacted my clients and said, ‘I’m sorry I don’t feel comfortable taking you there’,” she said. 

Uys said a warning about what to do in the event of an attack has become part of her regular mountain safety briefing to tourist groups before leading hikes.

Having recently seen police tents positioned at the base of Lion’s Head, Uys said efforts are being made to increase police visibility. But added that it “doesn’t help”.

“You have all of them visible in one place, maybe one day a month,” she said. “The criminals need to know that they are there all the time.”

Louw said that the collaborative efforts employed by SANParks, the City and SAPS will continue beyond the tourist season to ensure safety year-round. DM

Mountain safety tips from a hiking guide



  • Know the route well before tackling it;

  • Never go hiking alone;

  • Avoid areas where crime has occurred repeatedly; and

  • Carry directional pepper spray and/or a taser.


Emergency contact numbers



  • SANParks: 086 110 6417

  • SAPS: 10111 (021 10111 on mobile)

  • Cape Town Emergency Services: +27 (0)21 480 7700


Update: This article was updated at 21:40 on 9 December 2024 to remove comments suggesting SANParks had excluded December 2024 crime statistics from its comparison of 2023-2024 data. The SANParks statistics reflect crimes that occurred from January to November in 2023 and 2024.

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