A public outcry is mounting over the worsening state of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), as users of the park demand urgent intervention from South African National Parks (SANParks) to halt what they describe as ‘alarming neglect’ of one of the country’s most iconic landmarks, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Cape Town’s world-famous Table Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New7Wonders of Nature, is reportedly facing escalating threats due to underfunding, poor infrastructure maintenance, growing crime, and a lack of ecological care. A petition launched on Change.org by advocacy group Friends of Table Mountain, and backed by several community organisations, calls for sweeping reforms in the management and resourcing of the park.
The campaign has received support from groups including Take Back Our Mountains, Love Our Trails, Table Mountain Watch, and the Table Mountain Bikers and Hikers Network. Together, they allege that SANParks is failing in its mandate to protect and manage TMNP, despite the park generating R430 million in revenue in 2024. Only R107 million, just 24%, was reportedly reinvested into TMNP, with the remainder redirected to other parks and SANParks’ corporate structures.
Among the core concerns raised are:
- A spike in crime: Including muggings, poaching, bark stripping, and illegal overnight stays that have led to fires and damage to flora.
- Infrastructure decay: With several trails inaccessible due to overgrowth or erosion and key roads for rescue and fire-fighting vehicles in disrepair.
- Neglected tourism hotspots: Once-popular destinations like the Hoerikwaggo Trail, Rhodes Memorial Tea Garden, Tokai Manor House, and Lister’s Tearoom lie in ruin.
- Unchecked invasive species: Alien plants are overtaking native fynbos, threatening biodiversity.
- Lack of signage: Poor trail marking has led to frequent hiker rescues.
The petition also accuses SANParks of failing to deliver on basic safety measures. Proposals from the campaign include deploying more trained field rangers, expanding the K9 unit, using drones for surveillance, establishing a 24/7 control centre, and installing CCTV cameras at high-risk trailheads.
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Community activists are also demanding transparent accounting and a formal review of permit fee structures, arguing that current charges are unfair when users receive little support in return.
‘There’s a real sense that SANParks is profiting from Table Mountain while giving very little back,’ the campaign states. ‘This iconic mountain deserves better. So do the people who use and protect it.’
The Western Cape’s Department of Social Development has previously acknowledged rising safety concerns linked to illegal overnighting and the involvement of minors in crime on the mountain. However, activists say local and provincial support alone cannot solve the problem without decisive action from SANParks leadership.
A woman in Cape Town suffered permanent eye damage after a violent attack on Table Mountain, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures as part of broader efforts to restore and protect the iconic landmark.
The petition is open for public support on Change.org, where thousands have already joined the call for SANParks’ CEO to commit to a sustainable funding plan, increase operational oversight, and restore Table Mountain to its rightful status as a protected natural treasure.
Anyone wishing to sign the petition or learn more can visit Change.org.
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