How safe are our hiking trails in Hermanus? This is the question that many nature lovers ask after two women were mugged at the Fernkloof Nature Reserve recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This incident happened on 23 September. According to Captain Fadila September, spokesperson of the Hermanus police, the complainant and her friend as walking near the Fernkloof waterfall bridge at 14:00. \u201cThe two women were approached by two unknown males,\u201d she said. \u201cThey were both threatened with sharp objects and were robbed of their jewellery, cell phones and cash. A docket has been opened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Mayor of the Overstrand, Dr Annelie Rabie, said in a statement the women immediately reported the incident to the Fernkloof Rangers\u2019 office, which contacted Law Enforcement and the police. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe police arrived on the scene quickly and the Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) CCTV camera footage was requested for further assistance,\u201d she said. \u201cA drone was also dispatched and the Fernkloof Rangers patrolled the area to look for the criminals.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The women, who are from Betty\u2019s Bay, were not injured, but were shaken by their ordeal and were very concerned about their cellphones, which have all their information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Mayor discussed the issue of personal safety in public areas at length with her Mayco members and senior staff. She indicated a wider strategic consultation with the police and all other security providers is needed to ensure collaboration and efficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe municipality has already increased its law enforcement\u2019s presence in Rotary Drive and will do the same in Fernkloof,\u201d Rabie stated. \u201cHowever, Fernkloof Reserve is not enclosed and has almost 20 access points, which makes entry easy, but difficult to control.\u201dPrevious incidents<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In December 2017 a British tourist was robbed at gunpoint in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a police report the victim, an elderly British man, was walking along the jeep track in the mountains when the two suspects accosted him, threatening him with a firearm and a knife and robbed him of his possessions. One shot was reportedly also fired. Quick action by Law Enforcement officers and the police led to the suspects\u2019 arrest in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley shortly after the robbery was reported. Masixole Ntabeni and Xolisa Nojubalala were sentenced to 15 years behind bars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2020 Hermanus Times<\/i> reported on a knife attack in Fernkloof Nature Reserve (\u201cKnife attack in kloof\u201d, Hermanus Times<\/i>, 6 February 2020) and according to the then Overstrand Municipal Manager, Coenie Groenewald, the municipality was in charge of security at the reserve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Fernkloof Operational Safety Plan can succeed only if there is a good working relationship between the municipality and other role-players, such as the police, neighbourhood watches, security companies and the HPP,\u201d he said in Hermanus Times<\/i> of 12 February 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a resident who is involved with the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, the problem has occurred since 2010 and still no safety plan has been put in place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said: \u201cThis is an old problem and there is a solution; everyone putting their own political agendas aside and working towards what is in the best interests of the reserve. There are a lot of people who want to get involved in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve. It is high time the NGOs, Overstrand Municipality, interested parties and CapeNature joined forces and worked together. The signs are there that the municipality cannot deal with this problem on its own.\u201d.<\/span> The Rotary Way, also one of Hermanus\u2019 most popular tourist attractions, is also a hotspot for criminal activities. In Hermanus Times<\/i> of 23 February 2022 (\u201cRobbed on Rotary Way\u201d) the victim said she always used to tell visitors to go to the Rotary Way for the beautiful views, but she will no longer do this after what happened. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How safe are our hiking trails in Hermanus? 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