SANParks is investigating an incident involving their rangers and two individuals which occurred on Scarborough Beach on Monday, January 4.
In a statement relating to the issue, SANParks explained that they are internally investigating a confrontation that happened between rangers and two individuals who were found walking along the beach. More details about what exactly occurred were not forthcoming although they acknowledged posts about the incident were circulating on social media.
In a post to the Friends of Table Mountain Facebook page, images and eyewitness accounts of the event detailed an elderly foreign couple who were caught walking on the beach by SANParks rangers.
“It appears the couple were apprehended on Scarborough Beach by SANParks’ rangers and were instructed to leave, which they did. It further appears that they were then detained by the rangers and asked to remain on the boardwalk, which they did,” explained the post.
In the account given in the post, the man, who was recovering from cerebral malaria, allegedly started feeling unwell and so attempted to return to the house they were staying at. The SANParks rangers then allegedly attempted to apprehend the man, resulting in him falling to the ground. His wife was heard shouting at them to let him go.
The beach falls within the Table Mountain National Park and while the park is still open for walks, the beach was declared closed by SANParks.
“We would like to advise the general public that the country is still under level three of the nationwide lockdown, where beach activities are not permitted in hotspot areas, under which Table Mountain National Park is included,” said SANParks in a statement.
SANParks and the police are investigating this incident but SANParks has also asked for any eyewitnesses to contact them and report what they saw, rather than posting on social media.
Those with information are asked to email Acting Park Manager, Barry Stoffels via email on [email protected] or SAPS Simonstown to provide their account of the incident.
Picture: @biketruck/Twitter
