Safety concerns on Cape Town mountains resurface

Safety on Cape Town’s hiking trails is once again under scrutiny following a attempted rape incident in the Woodstock area. Police have confirmed that a 45-year-old woman was accosted by a man along Phillip Kgosana Drive (formerly De Waal Drive) last week.

Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said the incident occurred on Wednesday, 9 April. It was reported that attempts to violate her had been made by the man, after she was accosted. A suspect was later arrested.

“The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation. We can confirm that a 42 year old male was arrested and appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates’ court,” said Twigg.

SANParks, which has faced mounting pressure to improve safety measures around Table Mountain National Park, confirmed its involvement in locating the victim.

“SANParks joined a search after receiving reports of a missing person from the family… The person was found with slight bruises. The SA Police Service were called and a suspect detained,” said spokesperson Charles Phahlane.

Phahlane added that SANParks has a range of interventions that have been implemented along the mountain to quell criminal activities, which includes increased patrols and partnerships with local security forces.

“We have more than doubled our specialist ranger forces with the recent passout parade of 24 Sea, Air, and Mountain (SEAM) Team members. These members will increase our ability to attend to the safety of visitors and environmental threats at Table Mountain National Park,” added Phahlane.

This incident follows a spate of armed robberies reported since March, including one involving a German tourist held at gunpoint near Kloof Nek Road. Community group Take Back Our Mountains (TBOM) has flagged a pattern of similar attacks across trails stretching from Kloof Nek to The Glen and Bo-Kaap’s Signal Hill side. Criminal activity has also reportedly surged around the Rhodes Memorial Blockhouse.

TBOM also shared on social media that several mugging incidents occurred earlier this month.