ATTENTION: any donations to change.org does NOT go to Friends of Table Mountain. If you would like to support FOTM please visit our fundraising page at: https://qkt.io/FOTM

Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) is celebrated as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, nestled in the heart of Cape Town. It provides both residents and tourists with unparalleled access to its rugged beauty, diverse fauna, and unique flora, forming a crucial part of the UNESCO-designated Cape Floristic Region.

Despite its natural splendor, TMNP has long been plagued by a disturbingly high level of crime, tarnishing its image and dissuading visitors from exploring its wonders. Incidents such as daily muggings, bark-stripping, forest destruction, poaching, and fires initiated by vagrants and religious groups have become distressingly common.

This surge in criminal activity demands immediate action. As the custodian of TMNP, SANParks has the mandate and responsibility to devise a comprehensive short, medium, and long-term plan to combat all forms of crime within the park.

The recent spike in criminal incidents necessitates urgent intervention to prevent the park from becoming inaccessible and damaging the tourism sector, a crucial source of job creation.

While TMNP remains highly profitable for SANParks, it is evident that insufficient resources are allocated to address the persistent crime issues. For the 2022/23 financial year, TMNP generated an impressive income of R298m, yet only R97m was allocated to the park. This disparity is unacceptable.

To rectify this situation and ensure the safety of park users, we, as concerned members of the public, demand the following immediate and long-term actions:

1. Immediate Recruitment: Double the number of contracted rangers from the current 70 to 140 for enhanced visible policing. Implement a robust monitoring method to deploy ranger resources effectively in the field.

2. Security Infrastructure: Develop a long-term plan for installing a comprehensive camera network at critical access points, repairing derelict fencing, and evaluating potential enhancements to prevent criminal ingress and egress at hotspots.

3. Collaborative Security Plan: SANParks must take accountability for TMNP safety by collaborating with all law enforcement authorities, including the South African Police, City of Cape Town Law Enforcement, and Provincial authorities, to create a well-coordinated, long-term security plan.

It is imperative that SANParks commits to a substantial increase in the TMNP operating budget, at least doubling the current allocation. This is crucial to implement interventions ensuring the consistent safety of park users with a high level of confidence.

Show your support by signing this petition, driven by Friends of Table Mountain, to demand urgent action for the protection of Table Mountain National Park.

Follow Friends of Table Mountain on Facebook and Instagram to stay part of the conversation. Or send an email to team@friendsoftablemountain.org

Remember that any donations to change.org does NOT go to Friends of Table Mountain. If you would like to support FOTM please visit our fundraising page at: https://qkt.io/FOTM

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