During the RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town event, on Saturday, three runners were mugged near Ocean View, highlighting a surge in criminal activity on the Table Mountain hiking trails.
Table Mountain hiking trail is a hotspot for tourist robberies
Race director Stuart McConnachiethe confirmed the runners were unharmed physically, and despite the harrowing experience, they decided to continue the race.
“All runners passing through the Simonstown checkpoint are being informed, and the matter has been handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS),” the statement from the race organisation read.
Table Mountain’s trails, popular among hikers and tourists, have recently witnessed a spike in crime, particularly muggings.
ALSO READ – Hikers warned to avoid Lion’s Head trails amid spike in robberies
Just last week, British elite runner Tom Evans was attacked near the King’s Blockhouse while preparing for the event.
With the increase in robberies, authorities have issued warnings to hikers and tourists, especially in areas like Lion’s Head and Signal Hill. In a recent incident, tourists were robbed at knifepoint on the Camps Bay side of Table Mountain.
Tahir Osman from Take Back Our Mountains points out that muggings have escalated since March, with Signal Hill and Lion’s Head being the most affected areas.
There have been reports of various robberies, including an incident involving a paraglider witnessing a mugging.
One of the earliest victims of the Table Mountain hiking trail robberies, Nick Frischke, is still missing, with several suspects linked to his disappearance in police custody.
From what we understand, Frischke’s case is being treated as a murder without a body.