SANParks and a volunteer group remain at odds over alleged mismanagement of Table Mountain

CAPE TOWN - SANParks and a volunteer group remain at odds over the alleged mismanagement of Table Mountain.

Despite a meeting in June to address the concerns, SANParks said that the volunteers went ahead and issued it with a petition demanding action.

SANParks is accusing the group of not acting in good faith.

But Love Our Trails insists that overgrown trails and rampant crime was not being addressed.

Founder of Love Our Trails, Blake Dyason, said that Table Mountain was crumbling under mismanagement and underfunding.

"Currently, the park's relying heavily on volunteer groups and NPOs to do alien vegetation clearing, trail building, safety, rescue, fire all those things and if anyone goes out on the trail, you're 99% of the time seeing a volunteer group doing work on the mountain before you see a ranger."

SANParks Spokesperson Charles Phahlane claimed that some of their concerns were based on misinformation.

"These are the issues that they raised with the CEO on the 2nd of June when she met with them. She came down to Cape Town to have a special meeting with all of them. Now, while you have raised these issues and you've requested, the CEO has indicated that she will come back to you. She said they must give her some time. Before she comes back to them, they've already put out this petition."