#SaveTableMountain: Community groups demand action on crime, trail decay, and funding
A coalition of community organisations and mountain users is urging SANParks to take immediate action to protect and restore the park.
Table Mountain. Image: 123rf
Amy MacIver, in for CapeTalk’s Sara-Jayne Makwala King, is joined by Andy Davies, Chairperson of Friends of Table Mountain and JP Louw, SANParks Head of Communications.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.
SANParks, the body responsible for managing South Africa's national parks, is facing mounting concerns over crime, maintenance, and resource allocation at Table Mountain National Park.
A coalition of community organisations and mountain users has launched the #SaveTableMountain campaign, calling for the urgent protection and restoration of the park.
Davies says among their concerns are rising crime, invasive vegetation, decaying trails, and frequent fires.
"This year we've seen 78 victims already affected by crime on Table Mountain National Park and that's only halfway through the year and we're heading towards the peak of 2023, where we had 151 victims affected by crime."
- Andy Davies, Friends Table Mountain Chairperson
"...go there now and you can just see the slow decay of these trails, and I don't think SANParks executives in particular quite understand how big the problem is and how much effort and resources Table Mountain National Park requires."
- Andy Davies, Friends Table Mountain Chairperson
"I kind of feel like it's a death by a thousand cuts, and we've just seen this slow decay of Table Mountain National Park...a lot of these issues are preventable, and the sooner we take action, the better."
- Andy Davies, Friends Table Mountain Chairperson
According to SANParks, resources are being fairly distributed across the country's national parks.
Louw says Table Mountain National Park scored about 75% in a recent 10-year management review, reflecting ongoing efforts and achievements.
"I really think it's a bit incorrect to come and try to say if there were 10 things that we're responsible for, then you pick maybe one or two where it might be an issue that for one or other reason we're still trying to resolve."
- JP Louw, SANParks Head of Communications
On the issue of crime, Louw explains that the park is open access and affected by city-wide crime issues.
He adds that SANParks has ramped up security by expanding specialised units and using helicopters to help prevent crime.
"... realities of what happens in the city will always impact on what happens in Table Mountain National Park, so even when we discuss this issue of crime we have to be a bit fair really and not want to raise it as if it's something completely divorced from the realities in that context."
- JP Louw, SANParks Head of Communications
Despite invitations from SANParks for dialogue, community groups say frustration has grown after years of ineffective meetings.
"Table Mountain National Park is a famous tourist attraction and we want tourists to feel comfortable when they come here and we want our own users to be able to feel safe when they go walking on the mountain."
- Andy Davies, Friends Table Mountain Chairperson
Scroll up to listen to the full conversation