Sello was briefing Parliament’s portfolio committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries on Tuesday.

In recent months, there has been an increase in reports of crime, such as muggings, in Table Mountain National Park.

Volunteer groups under the banner of #SaveTableMountain have started a petition calling on SANParks to deal with rising crime and the deterioration of trails on the mountain.

Presenting in Parliament on Tuesday, Sello said the mountain faces an urban crime “spillover” from the city.

“The national park is a microcosm of the challenges that the City of Cape Town faces,” she said.

Sello said the park is vast in size and has open access, meaning many areas don’t have fences or gates.

In the past year, SANParks has increased the number of “boots on the ground” by employing more Sea, Air and Mountain (SEAM) rangers, from 16 to 40. SANParks staff have increased from 188 to 240. SANParks is appointing a senior manager of visitor safety and protection services – someone who “understands urban crime”, said Sello.

The volunteer safety services will be revitalised in 2026, she said.

The park is a “critical pillar” in SANParks’ revenue generation and a “major contributor to our financial sustainability”, said Sello.

Over the past five years, the park generated over R1.34-billion in revenue, largely through the cable car, Cape Point and the Boulders Penguin Colony.

“The issue of crime is by far the largest and most critical risk we face on Table Mountain … We are increasing our investment. The question is: will there ever be enough, given the size of the problem?”

SANParks has also invested in new security technology, such as drones and bodycams for rangers.

“We are hopeful and positive about how technology will assist us,” she said.

Sello said crime statistics showed a decrease in crime on the mountain. Numbers from SANParks previously sent to GroundUp, show that there were 133 robberies in 2023, and 58 in 2024. But this year, there have already been 53 robberies, and the statistics show robberies tend to spike towards the end of the year.

EFF MP Nazier Paulsen raised doubt over whether SANParks’ increase in staff would “ensure an immediate and significant reduction in criminal incidents”.

ANC MP Nkhensani Kate Bilankulu said, “Despite the enhanced security measures described, reports of attacks, assault, and illegal poaching … remain a concern.”

Bilankulu asked about the targets SANParks was using to measure the success of crime interventions, whether park management would be held accountable if targets are not met, and requested that progress reports be shared publicly.

MK party MP Siyabonga Mkhize said that despite the billions in revenue generated by the park, visitor safety remained a “failure”. He questioned whether SANParks has “lost public trust”.

Written by Liezl Human for GroundUp and republished with permission. The original article can be found here.

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The SANParks helicopter, primarily stationed at Kruger National Park, was temporarily stationed in the Western Cape Province to provide muscle to security operations across TMNP. The aerial asset is part of a multi-pronged strategy complemented by the recent boost in the highly skilled Sea, Air, Mountain (SEAM) unit, an elite response ranger unit for rapid and agile deployment on diverse terrain.

JP Louw, Head of Communications at SANParks and official spokesperson, also affirmed that the helicopter’s presence is already yielding positive results.

“The helicopter made its debut day a successful one when, during an aerial surveillance and ground-level operation, it was used to monitor a suspicious individual carrying a knife,” said Louw.

“Following a coordinated response, the individual was apprehended by our ground unit. During further investigation, it was discovered that the individual had a long record.”

This training emphasised the mandatory position the helicopter will play – not only as a deterrent, but also as an intervention tool in quick response. TMNP, which is visited by thousands of locals and foreigners annually, often sees the number of visitors increase significantly during holidays such as Easter, Christmas, and New Year. Air support during these peak times has been a game-changer in maintaining order and ensuring visitor safety.

“The coordination of our ground and airborne units is paramount,” commented Louw.

“It enables us to rapidly mobilize whenever a threat is perceived – be it criminal behavior or environmental risks like the evolution of wildfires.”

Indeed, one of the other advantages of having a helicopter on-site is that it can be used to help control and monitor for fire hazards, which have also spread more frequently in the area due to people and global climate change. Terrain is harshly beautiful, yet notoriously difficult to patrol quickly by foot. The helicopter’s capability to scan large areas within a very short span of time provides SANParks with a key advantage in keeping illegal fires from spreading and destroying the environment.

Table Mountain National Park guests are urged to make use of the site responsibly. SANParks reminds the public that the park is open to all people from sunrise until sunset, but safety should never be compromised. It is essential to travel in groups, employ appropriate hiking gear, and check the weather when venturing into the park for a safe and pleasurable experience.

In a similar development, SANParks has also reacted to growing concerns over mining interests within protected areas. In recent reports, Kropz Elandsfontein (Pty) Limited has expressed interest in applying for the de-proclamation of some of the land currently under protection within the West Coast National Park.

SANParks has been strongly opposed to such a project.

“We have made known to Kropz and all the interested parties that no mining activity can ever be permitted inside a national park,” stated Louw.

“This is in particular banned under section 48(1)(a) of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003.”

The institution maintains that nature conservation and eco-friendly public use of South Africa’s natural assets must be prior to commercial demands.

With improved air surveillance, dedicated ranger units, and controlled environmental management, SANParks remains committed to the protection of the integrity of its parks and ensuring each visitor an enjoyable, safe experience.

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