SANParks refutes claims as petition numbers climb

A community-driven campaign calling for improved safety and maintenance in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) has gained momentum, with 10 958 people signing a petition by the morning of Thursday, 21 November. 

The #SaveTableMountain coalition says the growing support reflects widespread concern over trail conditions, security visibility, and deteriorating facilities across the park.

In the petition, activists say that hikers, tourists and even staff face increasing risks due to what they describe as stretched security resources and inadequate upkeep. 

They point to a drop in safety personnel since 2021 and have criticised SANParks’ handling of the K9 programme, following the reassignment of four volunteer-funded dogs. 

According to the report, it calls for a 24/7 control centre, cameras at trailheads, expanded ranger presence and a strengthened K9 unit.

The coalition has also raised alarms over several sites they believe are falling into disrepair, including the Rhodes Memorial Tea Room, Orange Kloof homestead, and facilities linked to the Hoerikwaggo Trail. 

Volunteer groups say they are increasingly filling operational gaps, having repaired 85 km of trails to date, including 30 km in 2024 alone.

Poorly maintained boardwalks, they claim, have contributed to injuries and rescue call-outs.

Budget allocation remains a central concern for campaigners, who say that although TMNP generates significant annual income, too little of it is reinvested in the mountain. They have called for a transparent needs analysis and greater funding dedicated specifically to TMNP’s management, said the petition.

SANParks has strongly refuted the allegations, insisting the park is neither unsafe nor neglected.

SANParks spokesperson, JP Louw, said that no official crime statistics have been released, adding that while there had been a spike earlier in the year, public records now indicate incidents in “single digits”. He said SANParks had increased its conservation staff by 43%, doubled the size of the SEAM team and appointed a senior safety and security specialist who will take up the post in early December.

SANParks maintains that a structured trail maintenance programme is in place, reporting that 64 km of trails were serviced in the first months of 2025, with a long-term review currently underway.