The spectacular panoramic view from Rotary Drive in Hermanus draws scores of sightseers every year. But it also seems to draw unscrupulous criminals who prey on those visitors and rob them of their valuables.
In the most recent incident an American tourist fought tooth-and-nail to protect her possessions when she was accosted by two assailants at Rotary Way.
Capt Fadila September, spokesperson for Hermanus police, confirmed the police are investigating the robbery, which took place on Friday 21 July at approximately 10:55.
“The tourist and a South African woman were sitting at the lookout point when two men came from behind and pushed her,” she said. “The suspects took her backpack and other belongings by force. She ran after the suspects, but they managed to get away.”
The two women were not injured, but the tourist lost her passport and bank cards.
Local police and Overstrand Law Enforcement officers and members of Afriforum Alfa Neighbourhood Watch responded to the scene immediately to execute an extensive search. With the help of drones the suspects were spotted in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.
“Overstrand K9 Unit assisted in searching the bushes where the suspects were spotted, but we did not manage to make an arrest,” said September.
Afriforum Alfa chairperson Lourens Theron explained the biggest problem with these cases is time. “Law Enforcement, neighbourhood watches and the police are doing a wonderful job, but time plays a big role in apprehending the criminals,” he pointed out. “By the time we get the call, the criminals have already left. We searched the area from 10:00 to 15:00, but the suspects managed to get away.”
The issue of visitors’ safety at popular tourism landmarks such as Rotary Drive and Fernkloof Nature Reserve has come under the spotlight numerous times.
Two women were robbed of their possessions by a knife wielding assailant in February 2022 while doing sightseeing at Rotary Drive. In November 2022 a Dutch couple was robbed at knifepoint of expensive electronic equipment and jewellery while hiking near Kanonkop in Fernkloof Nature Reserve.
This came two months after two women were robbed near the waterfall bridge in Fernkloof by two suspects who threatened them with knives.
Overstrand Municipal Manager Dean O’Neill stated at the time mobile safety kiosks had been placed at Rotary Drive and Three Dams in Fernkloof to improve safety at these destinations.
Nearly 20 tourism-safety monitors were also appointed to patrol the Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Reports that these monitors no longer patrolled the reserve could not be confirmed at the time of going to press. An enquiry to the municipality about whether the safety kiosk at Rotary Drive was still in operation went unanswered.
Theron said these incidents on Rotary Way and Fernkloof are not good for tourism. “There must be a sustainable plan in place. One suggestion is that emergency telephones be placed on Rotary Way, Fernkloof and other places, and if you are robbed of your cellphone you can use the emergency telephones to contact the police directly.”
He urged people never to walk around with a mobile phone or any other valuables within easy reach, and not leave handbags and other valuables exposed in vehicles but rather lock it in the boot and get a small cheap cellphone to hide and use in an emergency.
