In light of the recent spate of criminal activity in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), Cape Town community group Friends of Table Mountain has launched a petition calling for immediate action to stop crime on Table Mountain.
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‘Despite its natural splendour, TMNP has long been plagued by a disturbingly high level of crime, tarnishing its image and dissuading visitors from exploring its wonders,’ said Friends of Table Mountain in its petition statement.
‘Incidents such as daily muggings, bark-stripping, forest destruction, poaching and fires initiated by vagrants and religious groups have become distressingly common.’
According to recent media reports and a graph shared by one of the organisation’s volunteers, the recent attacks across TMNP – including Signal Hill, Lion’s Head, Devil’s Peak and Kasteelspoort – have become a clear concern ahead of the highly anticipated festive season, which expects a significant influx of visitors, both domestic and international.
Subsequently, the group is calling on the park’s custodians to take immediate action, expressing that this recent spike necessitates urgent intervention to prevent the park from becoming inaccessible to all and damaging to the tourism sector.
‘As the custodian of TMNP, SANParks has the mandate and responsibility to devise a comprehensive short, medium and long-term plan to combat all forms of crime within the park,’ the statement said.
To rectify the situation, the petition demands the following immediate and long-term actions:
- Immediate recruitment: Double the number of contracted rangers from the current 70 to 140 for enhanced visible policing. Implement a robust monitoring method to deploy ranger resources effectively in the field.
- Security infrastructure: Develop a long-term plan for installing a comprehensive camera network at critical access points, repairing derelict fencing and evaluating potential enhancements to prevent criminal ingress and egress at hotspots.
- Collaborative security plan: SANParks must take accountability for TMNP safety by collaborating with all law enforcement authorities, including the South African Police, City of Cape Town law enforcement and provincial authorities, to create a well-coordinated, long-term security plan.
So far, 4 753 hikers, nature lovers, mountain users and general members of the public have signed the petition, with 2 105 signed today, according to the petition site.
‘Show your support by signing this petition, driven by Friends of Table Mountain, to demand urgent action for the protection of TMNP,’ concludes the statement.
For more information and to sign the petition, click here.
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Lion’s Head sunset hikes postponed indefinitely due to muggings
Picture: Matt Halls / Unsplash