Runner Stabbed On Table Mountain As Cape Town Trail Safety Fears Grow

A runner was reportedly stabbed by three male suspects on Table Mountain on Wednesday morning, in the Deadman’s Tree area near Tafelberg Road, according to the safety group Take Back Our Mountains. The attack happened between 7:15 and 7:30 am, prime time for the city’s trail runners. The runner’s condition has not been made public.

The stabbing has rattled Cape Town’s running, hiking, and cycling communities, and it lands on one of the most heavily used trail networks in the world. Table Mountain is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature and the backdrop to the Cape Town Marathon, which brought Eliud Kipchoge to Africa’s marathon stage in May and traces the mountain’s flanks in its closing miles.

“How Fearful They Are Of Visiting”

Take Back Our Mountains, which issued the alert, says the fear is already changing how people use the mountain. “Over the past two weeks, I have guided several tours to Table Mountain, Boulders Penguin Colony, and the Cape of Good Hope with tourists from around the world,” the group wrote. “One of the biggest concerns raised by almost every group is the crime on Table Mountain and how fearful they are of visiting.”

The group is calling for 24/7 monitored CCTV and a stronger ranger presence at busy trailheads. “These are important measures to help improve visitor safety and protect South Africa’s tourism industry,” it said, warning that peak tourism season is only months away. “If more isn’t done to address crime, incidents like these will continue to affect both public safety and visitor confidence.”

“Rinse, Repeat”

For Cape Town’s outdoor community, the frustration is that none of this is new. Table Mountain Watch, another local safety group, greeted the news with weary familiarity. “It’s time, once again (rinse repeat) for us as National Park users and visitors to start thinking about our safety and security, as we fast move towards Spring and Summer in Cape Town,” the group said.

If You Run There

The advice from Take Back Our Mountains echoes standard trail safety practice: “Whether you’re running, cycling, or hiking, avoid going alone and, where possible, travel in larger groups.” Runners on remote trails are also safer in groups, on familiar routes, with a phone and live location sharing.

Local outlet 2oceansvibe put the community’s mood plainly: the only thing runners should be outrunning is their personal best, not fear.