Cape Town - The City of Cape Town has agreed to restrict access to Tafelberg and Signal Hill roads at night as a safety measure, but says it is not likely to do so in time for the tourist season.
The city on Wednesday approved the introduction of access control on the two roads between 10pm and 5am daily, following a spate of muggings and hijackings in the area.
On Signal Hill earlier this year, a Norwegian student was raped and her boyfriend tied up.
In the wake of these attacks, Table Mountain National Park asked the city to introduce some form of access control to ensure the safety of people visiting the area.
But Brett Herron, the mayoral committee member for transport, said it would still take some time to conclude protocols with the park and put up signage. The gates, which would be manned by Table Mountain National Park officials, also still had to be manufactured and installed.
“It is not the intention to close these roads but merely to monitor the movement of vehicles in the interests of safety and security during the hours of darkness, so that law-abiding citizens can continue to enjoy the spectacular outdoor attractions our city has to offer,” Herron said.
When the city’s intention was advertised, there was strong resistance to any form of closure. People said that there should be free and unrestricted access for locals and tourists.
There will be no controls on access outside of the 10pm to 5am period.
Cape Argus