Partnership to help boost safety at parks

A LOCAL volunteer group and nonprofit organisation Tokai MTB has partnered with South African National Parks (SANParks) and other local groups to boost personal safety and security in Tokai Park and Newlands.

The organisation said this was as the result of “gruesome attacks” that had occurred in the past few months and years.

After two serious incidents in February and March, Tokai MTB stepped up security and has launched several initiatives to help lower the prevalence of criminal activity, as well as ensure that prompt action is taken when an emergency occurs in the park.

In 2016, the group also launched an emergency contact number which saw a significant reduction in the response time to incidents in the area.

Deon de Villiers, the Table Mountain National Park liaison of Tokai MTB, said although there were other emergency contact numbers already available, they were routed to a centralised call centre.

“This often meant a big delay in dispatching a rescue team closest to the position from where the call came from, and with vital knowledge of the layout of the area. Now with the support of SANParks honorary rangers, Tokai MTB conducts regular patrols of the park and its seven hot spots, not only on the weekend but during the week too,” said De Villiers.

The group has also been working on a personal safety programme that aligns the City, SANParks and emergency response groups. “We have to