Concern at spike in mountain attacks

TABLE Mountain Watch is concerned that there have been five attacks on the mountain chain in less than a month this year, reversing the downward trend of the past two years.

The Table Mountain Safety Forum said yesterday attacks had been reduced by 50 percent since it was set up two years ago.

But three cyclists had already been attacked on the mountain this year, the forum confirmed. Andre van Schalkwyk, of Table Mountain Watch, said in addition, there had been muggings in Sandy Bay and along the Karbonkelberg Trail.

The fact that five incidents had been reported in two months was worrying, Van Schalkwyk said, in spite of Sanparks saying the crime rate was down.

“Table Mountain is one of the Natural Wonders of the World; can they afford to have these incidents happening twice or three times a month?

“It does not matter that they say the crime rate is down. These incidents are still happening and the question is what are they doing about it? What is the plan for 2013?” Van Schalkwyk said.

He said although SANParks had managed to have some control over Lion’s Head and Signal Hill, robberies were still taking place.

The chairman of the safety forum Marc Truss said 16 mugging incidents had been reported on the mountain last year, compared to 38 in 2011.

Not a single criminal incident against a mountain user had been reported in the areas where the forum was active between October 2011 and January, he said.

There were 21 attacks on 70 people in 2007, and 10 attacks in 2009.

The reduction between 2011 and 2012 was attributed to the involvement of the police and an increase in the number of armed rangers patrolling the mountain park. The forum has been been active in the City Bowl, from Signal Hill to Devil’s Peak and Camps Bay.

“The primary incidences are thefts and attempted thefts from vehicles left for long periods in parking lots near popular mountain trails.” Truss warned mountain users not to leave any valuables in their vehicles and to report any sus- picious activities.

Rhodes Memorial, Devil’s Peak, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill had been identified as hot spots for criminals. Karbonkelberg and Sandy Bay were also hot spots, particularly in the winter months.

At a meeting of bodies representing hikers and bikers about improving safety, it was agreed that increasing the use of the mountain range would make it harder for criminals to operate without being detected.

Truss said Karbonkelberg and Sandy Bay did not fall into the forum’s area, but those who voiced their concerns about safety in those areas were correct

The forum had a meeting on Thursday and its plan for this year was extra vigilance, he said.