Cape Town - A German tourist was left wounded in a mugging, allegedly by four suspects, while hiking in Kalk Bay near the Echo Valley area last week.
SANParks spokesperson, JP Louw, said they were aware of the incident involving two German tourists, and safety measures have been put in place.
“Table Mountain National Park rangers and the SAPS responded immediately and assisted the victims.
“One of the victims was treated at the scene by paramedics and returned to their accommodation. The SAPS is investigating the matter further.
“The safety and security of our visitors remains a top priority and we have started putting in place measures that are generally showing positive results in the push against criminal activities,” Louw said.
However, police spokesperson, Anelisiwe Manyana, said Muizenberg and Fish Hoek police stations have no record of the incident.
Heidi Goodman from the Muizenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF), said crime in the area remained a concern.
“All along Boyes Drive, every single hike into the mountain has a red and green sign, which says that this is a dangerous route where muggings happen and urges hikers to go in big groups but they [hikers] just tend to ignore it,” said Goodman.
“This German couple could barely speak English but we have approached guest houses because a number of them in Kalk Bay are geared towards foreign tourists and some are French speaking and others are German speaking.
“They have to talk to their guests, it is the only way to do it.”
Goodman said there were unconfirmed reports of another attack the next morning.
Ward councillor in Kalk Bay, Izabel Sherry, said there will always be a risk while hiking, but they hoped to get extra law enforcement monitoring along the mountain and beach areas as the festive season approaches.
SANParks said they are committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, and urged hikers to follow advisories issued by park rangers.
Safety tips include to avoid hiking alone, especially during early morning or late evening, and to always hike in groups of four or more.
Report any suspicious activity to authorities or SANParks’s emergency number on 0861106417.
Cape Argus