Update: 8 April
In response to a follow-up email from Cape {town} Etc, the parent whose two daughters were knocked by e-scooters while walking on the Sea Point promenade confirmed that he had met with a representative from the e-scooter company a day after the incident.
‘Following a constructive discussion, I agreed to remove a social media post on the understanding that the company will take additional precautions to help prevent similar incidents in future,’ he said.
‘I did, however, make it clear that I intend to continue raising awareness around the broader safety concerns.’
He emphasised that the purpose of his reaching out to news agencies is not to ‘single out or name any specific operator, but rather address the issue in a more general context’.
‘My ultimate goal is to encourage the City to step in and implement the necessary guidelines and safety measures to prevent incidents of this nature from occurring,’ he added.
In light of this, ward councillor Nicola Jowell, whom the parent had reached out to following the incident, said she is pushing for these safety and regulation issues to be addressed more effectively with short and longer term solutions.
‘The current challenge is that the use of scooters and similar devices on the Promenade is not prohibited in law. As a result, Law Enforcement officers are limited in what action they can take unless there is reckless or negligent behaviour that can be clearly identified and acted upon,’ explained Jowell.
Jowell added that a public participation process reviewing the use of electric devices on the Promenade was conducted by the City in 2021, which received over 2 000 responses, with the majority opposing a ban on the devices.
‘As a result, the current approach has been to allow shared use of the space,’ she said.
‘However, the situation has evolved. With the arrival of additional rental operators, the volume of scooters has increased significantly, and this is now leading to more frequent conflicts and incidents.’
Subsequently, Jowell said she has raised the matter directly with the relevant departments and the new big operator, while Law Enforcement and City Park Rangers are reportedly engaging users and cautioning them against speeding.
‘While there is currently no simple or immediate regulatory solution, it is clear that the situation requires stronger oversight,’ she concluded.
A Cape {town} Etc reader has come forward following the publication of a recent article on e-scooter safety along the Sea Point Promenade, sharing a personal experience that highlights the growing concerns raised in the report.
In an email, the parent said the issue is not just a matter of debate, but one that has had a direct and lasting impact on his family.
The incident took place on the evening of 1 April 2026, when both of his young daughters were knocked over by an electric scooter while walking along the promenade.
One of the children, aged seven, suffered serious injuries and had to receive medical treatment at hospital following the collision.
Beyond the physical harm, the parent explained that the emotional effects have been severe, with his daughter saying she is ‘now emotionally traumatised and has expressed fear about ever returning to the Promenade’ – a space he asserted should ‘be safe for children and families’.
‘What is most concerning is that this incident appears to be part of a broader, ongoing safety problem,’ he noted in the email, raising further alarm about the risks posed in the area.
‘I have since been informed that similar incidents have occurred, including one involving a law enforcement officer.’
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He also expressed concern over what she described as a lack of effective regulation or enforcement to prevent high-speed scooter use in areas primarily used by pedestrians.
‘As a parent, I find this completely unacceptable,’ he said.
‘The Promenade is a public space intended for pedestrians, including children, the elderly, and runners, not for fast-moving electric vehicles operating without adequate control.’
The parent confirmed that he has raised the matter with the local ward councillor and intends to pursue further action.
He also called for ‘greater public awareness’ around the ‘very real’ dangers associated with e-scooters in pedestrian-heavy environments, urging that more attention be given to the issue before a more serious incident occurs.
‘I urge you to continue highlighting this matter before a more tragic incident occurs,’ the parent concluded his email.
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Picture: Shayamal / Wikipedia Commons
