By Caryn Dolley

For the first time in 100 years, Western Cape Scouts have suspended
hikes on Table Mountain.

A spate of muggings has put its members at risk and it refuses to use
the mountain until security is stepped up.

At the same time, Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) welcomed support
from the city and provincial government while the Independent Democrats
called for the "urgent release of emergency funding" to boost security.

Between Friday and Sunday at least 15 muggings were reported on the
mountain.

On Wednesday, Nimmy Abrahams, the Western Cape Scout Programme's
assistant area commissioner, said it had, for the first time in 100
years, suspended all hikes because it felt its 3 500 Scouts were unsafe.

It had posted a warning on its website.

Abrahams said Scouts used Table Mountain as a training ground as hiking
was a way of improving leadership skills.

"I'm very disheartened that it has come to this, but I cannot afford to
put Scouts at risk. This type of training must come to a halt."

He said the programme had a hut on the mountain where Scouts often
stayed overnight but it would no longer be used for hiking purposes.

Abrahams was hoping to meet Cape Nature Conservation to check if Scouts
could use the Helderberg or Cederberg Mountains until Table Mountain
security was improved.

On Wednesday TMNP manager Brett Myrdal said it was "really heartening to
have local and provincial government support" after it had sent out
invitations to a security meeting on September 17.

He said the park had requested a total of R9,4-million from them nine
months ago.

ID caucus leader Simon Grindrod on Wednesday urged that the funding be
made available within 24 hours.

"Our mountain is in a state of siege ... The city and province must act
today," he said.

Sabine Lehmann, chief executive officer of the Table Mountain Aerial
Cableway Company, said while visitor numbers had not yet dropped, she
was concerned about the muggings.

"Cape Town's reputation as a safe destination is at stake and that
affects everyone in the tourism industry."

She said she did not think muggers were using the cable car.

Despite the mountain's security situation some hiking organisations were
undaunted.

Anwaaz Bent, co-ordinator of The Hikers Network, an advisory body to
social hiking groups and clubs, said its 500 members would "not be
(kept) off the mountain".

Also of Wilderness Search and Rescue, Bent said he was worried muggers
would become more violent which would increase the number of mountain
rescues.

"My biggest fear is that someone will be pushed or they'll fall. This
will mean more people will have to be airlifted or rescued."

Sources: iol