Two German tourists were attacked and robbed by four suspects while hiking the mountains near Kalk Bay, in the vicinity of Echo Valley. The assault left the tourists injured, and authorities responded quickly to the incident on Thursday, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: Drunk driving arrests soar ahead of festive season
JP Louw, spokesperson for SANParks, confirmed that Table Mountain National Park rangers, along with the South African Police Service (SAPS), arrived promptly at the scene to assist the victims.
The Daily Voice reported that one of the tourists received treatment from paramedics at the location before being escorted back to their accommodation. Louw assured that safety measures have been implemented to improve security, with ongoing efforts showing positive results in reducing criminal activity.
However, despite the swift response, SAPS spokesperson Anelisiwe Manyana reported that there was no record of the incident at either the Muizenberg or Fish Hoek police stations.
Heidi Goodman, from the Muizenberg Community Police Forum, emphasised the importance of hikers travelling in groups for safety.
She pointed out that every trail along Boyes Drive is marked with red and green signs, warning of the high risk of muggings. ‘Unfortunately, hikers often ignore these warnings, which puts them at risk,’ Goodman said.
She also highlighted the communication gap, as the German couple had limited English proficiency. She suggested that guesthouses in Kalk Bay, which cater to foreign tourists, should do more to inform their guests about potential dangers, as reported by IOL.
In response to growing concerns, Councillor Izabel Sherry acknowledged the ongoing risk to safety but suggested that increased vigilance and security measures could help mitigate further incidents. With the festive season approaching, Sherry expressed hope for more law enforcement patrols in both the mountain and beach areas. ‘While we can’t eliminate crime entirely, our focus is on being more proactive to prevent future incidents,’ she said.
Also read:
Picture: Pexels (Image is for illustration and not an actual depiction of the article’s subjects.)
