NPO calls on SANParks to do more to curb crime on Table Mountain

CAPE TOWN - Crime on Table Mountain remains a concern.

Non-profit organisation Friends of Table Mountain said that in January alone, there had been 20 muggings reported.  

The latest figures from Table Mountain National Park show there where 60 incidents of robberies on the mountain between November 2024 and January 2025.

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The NPO said that more needed to be done to curb these incidents.

During the 2023 festive period, there were 96 incidents recorded compared to the 60 incidents recorded in the 2024 holiday season.

Despite Table Mountain National Park officials reporting a decrease in crime in the park over the festive season, Andy Davis from Friends of Table Mountain said this was still unacceptably high.  

"We need to have a lot more visible policing on the park that actually prevents this kind of low-level crime and obviously the more serious crimes like muggings."

Davis has called on South African National Parks (SANParks) to allocate more money for safety and security.

"We really feel like a lot more needs to be done from SANParks head office. You know, the park manager can only do so much with her limited resources and essentially what we're doing, we’re appealing to SANParks head office, were appealing to Minister [of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries] Deon George to intervene and to make sure that the park manager has sufficient resources to do her job properly."

Davis added that littering and environmental damage had also been on the rise on the mountain.