Crime on Table Mountain

[Richprins]

No, I mean less PC and more 9mm...

[Richprins]

Lauren Isaacs | about 2 hours ago

CAPE TOWN - Police have arrested two men in connection with an attack on a group of hikers in the Silvermine Nature Reserve.

The nine hikers were ambushed in January, with five of them were stabbed.

The pair appeared in court on Tuesday and remain in custody.

The police's Noloyiso Rwexana says: “The Western Cape SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula is pleased with the arrest of two men, aged 18 and 32 years respectively, on charges of robbery.”

Late in January, a 56-year-old man was stabbed to death while hiking with his wife at the Echo Valley near Kalk Bay.

At least 85 attacks on hikers have been recorded over the past 12 months.

(Edited by Zamangwane Shange)

http://ewn.co.za/2018/02/14/police-arre ... silvermine

[Richprins]

Media Release: SANParks outlines way forward in dealing with safety and security in Table Mountain National Park

23 February 2018

South African National Parks (SANParks) held a media briefing today to outline the way forward in dealing with the safety and security challenges the park faces.

After several meetings with members of the Security Cluster, as well as internal workshops, the current operational plan for safety and security was reviewed and upgraded in order to deal with the ongoing safety challenge that is besetting the park.

All parties, internally and externally, agreed that a unified approach is key to tackling the issue of increased crime on TMNP, and a joint operational approach with key law enforcement agencies will be ratified through a formal process at a national level.

“We are very concerned about the increase in attacks on the Mountain and it is indeed regrettable that there has been a life lost. To this end SANParks has in the meantime increased its security efforts further to what is already outlined in the Safety and Security Park Management Plan for Table Mountain National Park, and have increased our ranger deployment and utilised our dog unit consisting of highly trained 12 dogs patrolling an open access urban park,” says Mr Gavin Bell, Acting Park Manager, Table Mountain National park.

In addition the organisation will ensure that all vacant ranger posts are filled to increase its capacity in terms of visible policing.

Moreover SANParks welcomes the arrest of the perpetrators responsible for the incident that took place on 13 January 2018 in the Silvermine section of the park.

As SANParks we will continue to pursue the joint approach working closely with various law enforcement agencies, the City, government and community groups and is also investigating the viability of technological solutions given the vast terrain, the numerous access points into the park and the spillover into the park of urban crime.

Issued by:
Table Mountain National Park
Tel: 021 712 0527

Enquiries:
Merle Collins
Regional Communications Manager
Tel: 021 689 4441, cell: 072 627 3910
Email: merle.collins@sanparks.org

[Lisbeth]

And the Police? Maybe better that they do not participate, because I have read quite a few articles saying that the whole police corps is a mess without structure nor leaders

[Richprins]

A spate of hiking related attacks have taken place in CT in the past 12 months. Over 80 people have been attacked in the last year. These areas have been identified as hot spots.


http://ewn.co.za/2018/03/13/heat-map-of ... ng-attacks

[nan]

[Richprins]

Over 40 attacks recorded on Table Mountain since beginning of 2018

In the latest incident this past Sunday, three armed attackers held a group of 11 people at gunpoint while robbing them of their belongings.


Lauren Isaacs | about 3 hours ago

CAPE TOWN – The Table Mountain Security Action Group says there have been more than 40 attacks on the mountain since the start of the year.

In the latest incident this past Sunday, three armed attackers held a group of 11 people at gunpoint while robbing them of their belongings.

The group was making its way along the Kwaggas trail near Duiker Island at the time.

On the same day, a cyclist was attacked while completing the Tokai-mast ride.

No arrests have yet been made in either of the attacks.

The group's Andre Van Schalkwyk says, “And if we continue on this trajectory we’re not going to be looking very good.

“But it’s not really about the numbers or statistics because it’s more about the impact and the consequences of this continued rise in these crimes and the nature of these violent crimes.”

In January, nine people were robbed and five of them stabbed while on a hiking trail on the mountain above Kalk Bay.


http://ewn.co.za/2018/03/30/over-40-att ... ng-of-2018

[Lisbeth]

It's all over the place

The place should be swarming with police playing hikers

[Richprins]

Obviously and agreed, Lis!

You'll see it is mentioned in the comments there, but could be entrapment?

[Lisbeth]

Media Release: Speedy response by TMNP rangers during attempted mugging incident

12 June 2019

Table Mountain National Park confirms that an attempted mugging incident took place on Sunday 9 June 2019, near Kleinplaas Dam in Red Hill - Cape Point.

A male park user was making his way along the road to the Kleinplaas Dam parking when two young males clothed in black hoodies and denim jeans, approached him with knives and a suspected firearm. The victim then dropped his belongings and ran away alerting his friends of the suspects. By this time the suspects realised they were not alone they escaped into the direction of Ocean View.

As soon as the rangers were tipped off via a Whatsapp Group member at about 14:30, the rangers immediately responded taking them minutes to get to the scene. The first of three ranger teams arrived within 14 minutes of receiving the call and were followed up by two other teams in support of the incident from other sections. Thanks to the speedy response of the rangers who were patrolling close to the area at the time, no injuries occurred and the victim was safely escorted to the incident location to retrieve his items. Additional resources will be deployed to the area to patrol and monitor the activity within the area.

These are the suggested SANPark safety tips visitors should adhere to:

- Never hike, run, cycle, etc. alone.
- Plan your route from start to end and choose the route according to the ability, fitness and experience of the group. This will prevent potential injury.
- Inform someone exactly which route you are taking as well as your expected time of return) and stick to this route and plan.
- Always be prepared for bad weather, i.e. take proper weatherproof clothing even on a sunny day (wind and rainproof); torches - with spare batteries and globes; good footwear - strong boots or shoes with non-slip soles; food; water; a flask of tea or some other beverage; a rucksack to carry it all in - so as to leave your arms and hands free.
- Undertake your activity with somebody who knows the way and carry a guidebook, map or route description. A registered guide is recommended.
- Keep to the designated routes on well-used paths. Heed signs advising of danger and do not take short cuts or unknown routes.
- Leave valuables like cash and cameras behind.
- Be wary of suspicious persons who may pose as hikers.

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) TMNP Communications

Media enquiries:
Lauren Howard-Clayton
Regional Communications Manager - Cape Region
Tel: 071 1115 5843
Email: Lauren.Clayton@sanparks.org