News24 reports that SANParks and the City of Cape Town are concerned about the spike in crime on hiking trails. On Thursday, SANParks rangers were held up at gunpoint on Lion's Head in Cape Town when they responded to a pre-dawn robbery complaint.

"As they approached the kramat (shrine to Muslim holy men), an individual emerged from the bushes, armed, [and] cocked his weapon and pointed it at our rangers. Thankfully, no one was injured, and it was later discovered that the ammunition were blank shells," SANParks said in a statement.  The gunman fled from the scene. "Lion's Head was immediately closed off for the safety of users approaching the area, and through our operations room, various role players were alerted," SANParks added. The police were deployed to search for the gunman. The area has since been reopened to the public. SANParks spokesperson Lauren Clayton said there had been a spike in crime on Lion's Head and Signal Hill since August. Cape Town's mayoral committee member for safety and Security, JP Smith, advised that in June and July, one or two crime incidents were reported each month, but it dramatically shot up to 10 in August, six in September, and 13 in October. The Table Mountain National Park and all of its hiking trails are under the control of national government.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24

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