Recent brutal attacks on Table Mountain, including the fatal stabbing of a Ukranian man, have once again brought the troubling issue of safety on this iconic mountain to the fore. On Thursday 8 August Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane launched a National Tourism Safety Awareness Campaign with a safety plan for Table Mountain in conjunction with the City of Cape Town’s economic opportunities and asset management directorate.
After the murder, Table Mountain Watch, a group that monitors crime on the mountain posted an angrily-worded response to the incident on its Facebook page that expressed frustration with the red tape and lack of assistance from SANParks to the City of Cape Town in taking action to make the mountain safer. According to the group, the lack of support has been an ongoing problem since similar attacks took place in 2017. The group was of the firm opinion that one enters Table Mountain National Park at their own risk and that it is a ‘crime hotspot’.
From Llandudno Ravine there are excellent views of Camps Bay, Lion’s Head and Robben Island. Photo by Matthew Sterne
The UK foreign office also issued the following warning: ‘Hikers should stick to popular trails and hike in large groups taking local advice where available on security. There have been violent attacks on hikers and tourists on Table Mountain. Take care in quieter areas of the Park, especially early in the morning or just before the park closes.’
This latest attack and the response in the media seems to have been a catalyst for the City’s new action plan, which will hopefully have a lasting impact to make the mountain a safer space, allowing people to enjoy its beauty once more.
The plan includes the deployment of 86 monitors, 60 of which are already active, with the remainder being deployed in October. To assist the monitors, who’ll be operating at key sites in areas with high volumes of tourists, drones will also be employed from December to provide surveillance footage.
The Department of Tourism is also planning to launch a new app in December that will provide tourists with basic information, safety tips and contact details if help is required.
Also read: A hiker’s guide to keeping safe on Table Mountain
‘Table Mountain is a leading tourist attraction on the African continent with local and global significance, and we need to make sure that we protect and promote our tourism sector,’ said James Vos, the mayoral committee member for economic opportunities and asset management.
None of the measures that are being planned are foolproof and unfortunately hikers wanting to enjoy Table Mountain, right on the doorstep of a beautiful but dangerous city, will likely need to take precautions for the foreseeable future. While no one can definitively answer the question, ‘Is it safe to hike on Table Mountain’ on any given day with a particular group of people, you can limit your chances of becoming a statistic by always following the recommended safety tips.
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