2 days ago
Help #SaveTable Mountain: Petition calls for action against mismanagement
Friends of Table Mountain have launched a petition demanding accountability and alleging that Table Mountain National Park is being mismanaged. The petition has nearly 4 000 signatures.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
A petition demanding accountability, calling for comprehensive action to restore and protect Table Mountain, is set to cross 4,000 signatures, with them urging more concerned residents to join them.
This campaign, driven by Friends of Table Mountain and supported by Take Back Our Mountains, Love Our Trails, Table Mountain Watch, Table Mountain Bikers and Hikers Network, said that they believe it's their right and responsibility to demand accountability and action.
'Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) is plagued by critical issues directly attributable to SANParks' poor management and underfunding. These problems threaten the park's ecological integrity, visitor safety and tourism potential,' the collective's campaign said.
They are concerned by the persistently high crime rates, failure of their conservation mandate, decaying infrastructure, insufficient signage, runaway fires, and the decay of tourism infrastructure.
They also raised concerns regarding SANParks spending only R107 million on TMNP in 2024, despite generating R430 million in income.
They said that as concerned citizens and users of TMNP, they demand transparent resourcing, enhanced safety and security, an effective 24/7 control centre for reporting issues, cameras at trailheads and key hotspots, expansion of the K9 dog unit and Infrastructure review and investment, as well as fair permit fees.
"Table Mountain, Cape Town's iconic UNESCO World Heritage site and New7Wonder of Nature, is in a state of alarming decline. Despite generating significant revenue, SANParks is severely under-resourcing and mismanaging TMNP, leading to widespread deterioration and neglect.
"Join our urgent call for comprehensive action to restore and protect this irreplaceable natural asset for current and future generations. As concerned mountain users and community members, we believe it's our right and responsibility to demand accountability and action," they said.
This campaign, driven by Friends of Table Mountain and supported by Take Back Our Mountains, Love Our Trails, Table Mountain Watch, Table Mountain Bikers and Hikers Network, said that they believe it's their right and responsibility to demand accountability and action.
Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers Archive
SANParks Head of Communications and spokesperson, JP Louw, has addressed the aforementioned concerns, stating that the safety of Table Mountain requires a whole-of-society approach.
'The beauty of this national park is breathtaking. But beauty can become dangerous if basic safety rules are ignored. That's why SANParks continues to issue safety guidelines, and recent incidents prove just how vital those messages are.
'But what is the use of signage, media engagements, awareness blitzes, loud hailers, and all other efforts to get the message out when, at a partnership level, we do not seek to join efforts to push back against criminal elements?' Louw said.
'For context and not wishing to nitpick, a few scenarios will illustrate this aptly. A young lady was stranded at about 8 pm on a Friday night with no cellphone or cash.
'Our rangers, whilst on a routine safety patrol, came across her and offered assistance. In another instance, a group of ladies in their late teens and early twenties were also found walking from Signal Hill to Lion's Head by themselves at night. This is unsafe, as we advise hikers not to hike at night,' Louw said.
Louw stated that SANParks has consistently demonstrated its commitment to preserving nature and ensuring public safety.
'But as we call for a partnership to work together, we are, of course, not excusing SANParks and its management of its responsibilities.'
Louw has said that SANParks has implemented targeted operations, information sharing and joint deployment, along with joint operations with SAPS, City Law Enforcement, Metro Police and community safety initiatives.
'Debates about doing or spending more will, of course, rage on. Sadly, there are others who have no understanding of South Africa's successful and world-class conservation model that saved species like Bontebok and the Mountain Zebra.
'But that is a matter for another time and space, which clearly needs SANParks to introspect about the means to provide better education and information about its successful workings,' Louw said.
'Importantly, while we are engaged in debates, we should not lose sight of the positive strides that are being made.
'But we are also well aware of the critical need to partner with users of Table Mountain National Park to push back against criminal elements. It is also against this understanding that we continue inviting all who are keen to constructively support this effort to join hands,' Louw said.
[email protected]
