A public outcry is mounting over the worsening state of Table Mountain National Park TMNP, as users of the park demand urgent intervention from South African National Parks SANParks to halt what they describe as 'alarming neglect' of one of the country's most iconic landmarks, Cape town Etc reports.
Cape Town's world-famous Table Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New7Wonders of Nature, is reportedly facing escalating threats due to underfunding, poor infrastructure maintenance, growing crime, and a lack of ecological care. A petition launched on Change.org by advocacy group Friends of Table Mountain, and backed by several community organisations, calls for sweeping reforms in the management and resourcing of the park.
The campaign has received support from groups including Take Back Our Mountains, Love Our Trails, Table Mountain Watch, and the Table Mountain Bikers and Hikers Network. Together, they allege that SANParks is failing in its mandate to protect and manage TMNP, despite the park generating R430 million in revenue in 2024. Only R107 million, just 24, was reportedly reinvested into TMNP, with the remainder redirected to other parks and SANParks' corporate structures.
Among the core concerns raised are:
- A spike in crime : Including muggings, poaching, bark stripping, and illegal overnight stays that have led to fires and damage to flora.
- Infrastructure decay : With several trails inaccessible due to overgrowth or erosion and key roads for rescue and fire-fighting vehicles in disrepair.
- Neglected tourism hotspots : Once-popular destinations like the Hoerikwaggo Trail, Rhodes Memorial Tea Garden, Tokai Manor House, and Lister's Tearoom lie in ruin.
- Unchecked invasive species : Alien plants are overtaking native fynbos, threatening biodiversity.
- Lack of signage : Poor trail marking has led to frequent hiker rescues.
The petition also accuses SANParks of failing to deliver on basic safety measures. Proposals from the campaign include deploying more trained field rangers, expanding the K9 unit, using drones for surveillance, establishing a 24/7 control centre, and installing CCTV cameras at high-risk trailheads.