By Clayton Barnes & Lynnette Johns

Lion's Head, Skeleton Gorge and Signal Hill have been identified as the likeliest places for hikers to be mugged on the mountain.

Muggings escalated in the last two weeks with 15 cases reported, compared to a total of 18 since the beginning of the year.

In one of the latest incidents a woman was told to take off her good-quality hiking gear, leaving her stripped down to her panties and bra before the muggers made off with her valuables.

On Thursday MEC for community safety Leonard Ramatlakane will meet the police and tourism role players to thrash out a way forward.

And the Table Mountain National Park and its partners - Cape Town Tourism, the police and the provincial government - will hold a "state of readiness" meeting to discuss safety on the mountain chain.

There have been calls for a command-and-control centre to be established which would better co-ordinate the efforts of the 52 rangers and 200 volunteers who patrol the mountain.

A former ranger told the Weekend Argus on Saturday he and a team of four used to patrol the area between Signal Hill and Silvermine on foot, horse, motorcycle and Landcruiser.

"We were easily identified because we wore khaki uniforms and green epaulettes and carried firearms as a matter of course, although I never had cause to use mine."

The man said he could not understand why the crime situation had spiralled out of control on the mountain.

"I acknowledge that times have changed, but all you need is a co-ordinated, constant, visible presence," he said.

The muggers have been described as using guerrilla warfare tactics, prompting mayoral committee member for economic development and tourism Simon Grindrod to call on the military for assistance.

"They already do training exercises on the mountain - all they would need to do is up their visibility and they know how to deal with guerrilla warfare tactics."

He added: "It is not fair to expect citizens to play the role of law enforcers and potentially place themselves in danger. Capetonians pay rates and taxes and they have a right to expect to enjoy the mountain without fear."

He also made his call on the BBC, and it is being carried on the British news corporation's website.

Mountaineer Gordon Evans suggested building watchtowers on Maclear's Beacon, the highest point on the mountain, and at the top of Platteklip Gorge.

A spokesperson for the Table Mountain National Park said it was taking a new look at its safety and security strategy before it made any decisions following proposals from all quarters, including the provincial government, for the central control centre on the mountain.

Phumeza Mgxashe, park communications manager, said no decision had been made on the latest proposal.

"We've received a number of proposals and will make an announcement as soon as we decide what to do," said Mgxashe.

"I'm not at liberty to say who the proposals were from or what they entail, but can confirm that we are relooking our safety and security strategy before making an announcement."

She identified Lion's Head, Skeleton Gorge and Signal Hill as routes on which crime was rife.

"We are on high alert as most attacks have occurred on these routes," she said. "People should really be careful and we discourage hikers from taking any valuables with them when heading up the mountain."

Provincial police spokesperson Director Novela Potelwa, who was part of a Table Mountain security work group meeting on Thursday, said one of the critical points identified was the need for a "proper assessment" of the situation.

"A suitable plan has to be devised from that assessment.

"Then we'll also be able to match the resources to the threat. We want to make the mountain safe for everyone by setting up a control centre ... I'm sure the response time will be much faster."

Potelwa said claims that children were used as scouts by muggers were not true. All the attackers were believed to be men older than 18.

"There are so many pathways and anyone has access to most of them.We encourage people not to take valuables with them, to hike in groups and to be vigilant."

Sources: iol