Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) has unveiled its Festive Season Safety and Security Plans, following a spate of robberies and muggings on the slopes of the mountain, Signal Hill and Lion’s head.

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SANparks says since the start of the festive season campaign there have been 6 successful arrests of multiple suspects through joint operations of SANParks, SAPS and the City of Cape Town, enabled through the recently revived TMNP Safety and Security Forum.

The forum is meeting regularly to assess and define approaches to optimally deploy resources to target crime and share intelligence.

Another collaborative effort which will result in additional physical presence is the deployment of about 70 Tourism Monitors supported by the Department of Tourism. These monitors are intended to deploy on 15 December 2023.

In addition, SANParks has 112 rangers of which 15 are members of the special operations rangers division otherwise known as the Sea, Air and Mountain team (SEAM).

These are highly skilled rangers with a K9 unit of six fully trained dogs and a specialised operations centre which supports the area integrity management of TMNP.

This group covers multiple functions which include visitor safety, search and rescue for lost persons and illicit wildlife crime such as abalone poaching.

The rangers in TMNP recorded 36 successful apprehensions since their deployment. Their presence in the marine protected area incorporating Cape Point, Simons Town, Houtbay and stretching up to Robben Island has seen over 18 successful operations.

In support of aerial surveillance, drone assistance will also be in use particularly to track any threats, detect fires and assist in rescue operations.

SANParks says crime that occurs in the urban area tends to spill over into TMNP. But hopefully, with increased visibility on the ground, in the sea, mountain and increased aerial deployment this festive season, hikers and cyclists can rest assured they will be safe.

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