- Street robberies in the Kalk Bay region are on the rise, with recent muggings, including an attack on a German couple, intensifying concerns.
- The couple’s traumatic experience has raised alarm over the safety of tourists in Cape Town’s iconic hiking areas.
- While law enforcement and SANParks are increasing patrols, there are calls for better infrastructure and monitoring to combat the growing crime wave.
“Out of control” street robberies from Kalk Bay to Prince George Drive is how the Muizenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF) described robberies in the area after a German couple was mugged on Kalk Bay mountain last week.
According to Take Back Our Mountains (TBOM) founder Taahir Osman the tourist industry is “taking a beating” with repeated muggings occurring in the Table Mountain National Park.
Osman described how two German tourists were attacked in the Echo Valley area on Kalk Bay mountain on Thursday 21 November.
“A German couple was hiking the Echo Valley Trail when they were attacked about 10 to 15 minutes up the trail,” he shared. “According to a fellow hiker, who stays in the area, she assisted the tourists and took them for medical treatment because the husband was stabbed in the face.”
The incident has left the couple feeling devastated and traumatised.
“There were apparently three male assailants,” he added. “The lady wasn’t injured but she is devastated and traumatised to have witnessed her partner stabbed in front of her.”
The couple’s possessions were allegedly taken but they are yet to open a case at the police station.
“The husband received stitches on his forehead and they are very traumatised.”
According to Osman, repeated incidents of muggings in the TMNP, which includes the Pipe Track and Signal Hill, are affecting the tourism industry.
“Tourists are afraid to come to Cape Town; just this morning I received a text message from a couple who asked whether it is safe to come to Cape Town as their initial plans were to visit and go hiking.”
Osman further added that there have been four reported incidents on the Kalk Bay mountain side in the past month.
“There is a definite rise in crime on the mountain, in the Kalk Bay region,” he commented. “There is definitely a spike in that area but we also have muggings in Deer Park, Signal Hill and the Pipe track every year, especially now during the silly season.”
While law enforcement and the South African National Parks (SANParks) increased visibility patrols in those areas, more needs to be done to ensure the safety of locals and tourists, he adds.
“I still feel the authorities need to have proper structures in place. They need to add cameras at the hotspots, I’m not sure why they are not doing these things.”
Heide Goodman, Muizenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF) secretary, confirmed that street robberies are currently “out of control” in the Muizenberg policing precinct.
“I’m aware of the incident concerning the German tourists,” she said. “They haven’t opened a case yet because they were hospitalised.”
According to Goodman, there has been a rise in street robberies in Lakeside, Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and Prince George Drive. “We had a huge increase in street robberies… it is a huge concern.”
Referring to previous incidents earlier this month, Goodman said two local trail runners were attacked above Boyes Drive and a second group as they were making their way up the mountain.
“A group of four people and two trail runners were attacked in separate incidents. The perpetrators were four young men from Capricorn, which came as a surprise.”
Police are reportedly doing stop and searches in an effort to prevent street robberies.
Head of SANParks communications and spokesperson JP Louw confirmed that two German tourists were mugged.
“SANParks is aware of the incident involving two German tourists on Kalk Bay Mountain on Thursday 21 November, near the Echo Valley area,” he commented. “Table Mountain National Park rangers and police responded immediately and assisted the victims. One of the victims was treated at the scene by paramedics and returned to their accommodation.”
According to Louw, measures have been put in place to reduce criminal activities on the mountain.
“The safety and security of our visitors remains a top priority and we have started putting in place measures that are generally showing positive results in the push against criminal activities.”
Hikers, trail runners and tourists are encouraged to join the TBOM Table Mountain Security Alert Whatsapp group on 073 624 4287.
