Cape Town - As crime levels increase in parts of the city, couples fear for their safety when going on their routine date nights or spending quality time with friends, conscious that they might get mugged, hijacked or even murdered.
From romantic picnics on Signal Hill to hikes up Table Mountain, residents can no longer enjoy “their spot” without fearing for their lives.
Shaakirah Pandey, from Wynberg, said that she and her husband enjoyed “date nights” at the cinema but, after the spate of recent mall robberies, the couple feared for their safety.
“We used to go to the movies quite often but even the malls get robbed so much. You can’t do anything or go anywhere. And you’re also too afraid to leave your home in case it gets broken into,” said Pandey.
“Even if you have security gates installed, thieves will still find a way to break into your home,” she said.
Other residents highlighted Table Mountain, walks along Sea Point Pavilion and drives around Camps Bay as the most perfect date spots ruined by crime.
Dr Andrew Faull, from the Centre of Criminology at UCT, said people who visited places such as Lion’s Head and Sea Point were more likely to use their own cars and settle for safe public places.
“For people with the money and resources to visit Lion’s Head or Sea Point, they are more likely to drive to the area in a private car, and only engage in comparably safe public spaces,” said Faull.
“Of course, the fact that people get robbed on Table Mountain is very unfortunate, and no doubt discourages some people from visiting places like these. But these tourist areas are still likely much safer than less glitzy parts of the city,” he said.
Partying in Long Street, walks along Clifton Beach and even enjoying the view at Rhodes Memorial also came up as date spots ruined by increasing levels of crime.
Grassy Park resident Ilhaam Saban says she always has to jog with someone as she feared being robbed.
“I can never run alone. I’m afraid of being mugged or worse. I always have to run with a partner which isn’t always ideal as I might have a day off from work and want to go for a run at Muizenberg,” said Saban.
“I’m afraid that I won’t make it home in one piece or at all,” she added.
According to statistics from the Institute for Security Studies in 2004, the number of common robberies in Cape Town was recorded at 11 988 cases. This figure dropped in 2009 with 6 877 cases reported and currently stands at 10 010 cases this year.
Faull said that although crimes that take place in public spaces were scary, the bulk of these crimes took place in townships and poorer communities.
“These are all scary crimes that take place in public spaces involving a confrontation between an aggressor and victim, and usually includes the threat or use of force. However, the bulk of these crimes take place on township streets and in poorer, rather than wealthier communities."
Faull pointed out that the number of aggravated robberies in Gugulethu exceeded the cases reported in Camps Bay and Sea Point.
“There were 707 aggravated robberies in Gugulethu and 1 242 in Nyanga in 2014/15 compared to 20 in Camps Bay and 74 in Sea Point,” he said.
Cape Argus