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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With nearly 3-million visitors in 2023-4, the park attracts more visitors than any of the other parks managed by SANParks, including the Kruger National Park. Nearly half of all SANParks visitors come to Table Mountain, according to SANParks annual report.

A petition launched about a month ago called the #SaveTableMountain campaign, driven by Friends of Table Mountain, calls on SANParks to address safety at crime hotspots.

There were 59 robberies in Table Mountain National Park in 2022, 133 in 2023, and 58 in 2024, according to SANParks. Already this year there have been 53 robberies, and since robberies tend to spike towards the end of the year — in 2023 there were 30 robberies in October, 38 in November, and 11 in December — volunteers fear the worst is still to come.

Volunteer groups working in the Table Mountain National Park say there has been an increase in violent crime on the mountain.

SANParks denies that there is an increase in crime on the mountain. “There was a spike earlier this year but figures have since stabilised to below single digits,” said spokesperson JP Louw.

“There are spikes in incidents and crime that happen over the years during certain months, particularly the summer months when there are more tourists visiting Cape Town,” he said.

But volunteer groups do not agree. “Crime is on an active increase,” said Blake Dyason, founder of volunteer group Love our Trails.

“The crime is getting worse every year,” said Taahir Osman, founder of Take Back Our Mountains. He said that from 2023 to now, they’ve noticed an uptick in violent crime.

Louw said the mountain was “an open access park with numerous entry points and an extensive urban-park interface. The park is affected by urban crime spillover. This makes law enforcement challenging and means it’s vital to have joint effort with SAPS and City law enforcement.”

He said they were collaborating with SAPS and the City of Cape Town on joint patrols and information sharing.

But Dyason says most of the muggings and car break-ins take place at a few hotspots such as Lion’s Head and Signal Hill.

Signatories to the #SaveTableMountain petition have also raised concerns about overgrown or deteriorating trails, insufficient signage on trails, and invasive vegetation and trees.

They also complain about decaying tourism infrastructure, such as the Rhodes Memorial Tea Garden which burnt down in 2021 and has not been repaired, as well as other infrastructure at Orange Kloof Tented Camp, Lister’s Tearoom and the Tokai Manor House.

Louw said that tenders had been advertised for bulk services upgrades of the Tokai area and the Rhodes Memorial restaurant, to be completed in 2026. A heritage management plan is also being developed for the Tokai Arboretum, said Louw.

Rhodes Memorial restaurant will have its bulk services upgraded by 2026, according to SANParks.

Several volunteer groups work on the mountain. They maintain hiking trails, do safety patrols, and remove invasive species. “There is a lot of unhappiness with the way the park is being managed,” said Andy Davies, Friends of Table Mountain chairperson.

The group regularly fixes eroded and deteriorating trails on the mountain and puts up signage on trails to prevent people from getting lost. Last year, they fixed about 30km of trails.

Davies said SANParks often did not respond to reports of problems. “We don’t want to be entitled and demand stuff. We are trying to be constructive. We want to prevent the damage to trails and infrastructure,” he said.

Andy Davies, chairperson of Friends of Table Mountain, says they fixed about 30km of trails last year. Louw said there were 850km of trails in the park.

“Trail maintenance is continuous due to wear and tear from millions of users, winter rains which cause erosion, and fires which affect trail infrastructure and soil stability,” said Louw.

Dyason was concerned that SANParks was relying too much on all the volunteer groups working on the mountain. “If those groups stopped doing what they did, this mountain would be in serious trouble,” he said.

However, not all volunteer groups working on the mountain are critical of SANParks. Maya Naumann, from the Sugarbird Project, which removes invasive alien species on Table Mountain, said that they’ve established a good formalised relationship with SANParks.

“It was never an expectation we had that SANParks could do this on their own because it’s such a big problem,” she said.

This article was republished with permission from GroundUp, 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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A legacy of conservation and protection

SANParks has been a leader in conservation in South Africa for decades, serving a critical role in protecting the country’s vast biodiversity in its 21 national parks. Over the years, the organization has used innovative anti-poaching tactics, community outreach initiatives, and cutting-edge monitoring systems to safeguard wildlife and natural environments.

Table Mountain National Park, a place of landmark significance and a UNESCO World Heritage site, poses distinctive challenges due to its proximity to urban centers, leaving it susceptible to illegal ventures such as poaching, the theft of plants, and violent crime against tourist visitors. With an eye out for all these threats, SANParks has dynamically expanded ranger units, dispatching specialized forces to offer human security as well as nature protection.

Elite rangers trained for high-risk operations

The 24 graduates of SEAM were given extensive paramilitary training that would prepare them for specialized missions in environmental protection. They were subjected to tests of mental and physical fitness, intelligence-led operations, and compatibility with multi-functional units such as aerial support, canine tracking, and marine security.

With this additional cohort, the SEAM unit has expanded from 16 to 40 well-trained rangers, greatly increasing their capacity to respond to a wide range of threats. The SEAM team has been instrumental in making arrests, conducting patrols, and engaging in proactive security actions:

– 116 arrests since the team was deployed in December 2021.

– 88 helicopter deployments for rapid-response interventions.

– 1,003 foot patrols to police key areas in TMNP.

– 400 deployments of canine units to detect, apprehend, and chase.

The intelligence-driven strategy of the unit guarantees that the operations concentrate on risky behaviors such as poaching, illegal cultivation of rare plant species, and armed robberies that put tourists and biodiversity at risk.

Partnering towards a sustainable future

SEAM’s achievements are complemented by essential collaborations with its partners, i.e., SANParks Honorary Rangers, Table Mountain Fund (WWF affiliated trust), and Foundation for a Sustainable Future. Through such collaborations, significant financing as well as ongoing support for training, buying equipment, and sustainable operations is made possible.

JP Louw, Head of Communications at SANParks, spoke to the importance of these partnerships in the long-term conservation of South Africa’s natural resources.

“SANParks strives to build these relationships to secure enduring and long-term support for ongoing enhancement of collective efforts to protect our natural resources for future generations and ourselves.”

Ensuring the conservation future

As threats to biodiversity become more complex, SANParks remains at the cutting edge of conservation. The expansion of the SEAM team is a daring move towards enhancing the security of the Table Mountain National Park and ensuring South Africa remains a world leader in environmental conservation.

With a resurged ranger corps, sophisticated operational tactics, and committed partnerships, SANParks not only protects one of the country’s most cherished natural symbols but also provides a template for conservation-oriented security models worldwide.

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