Injisuthi security

Welcome to the forum Alan.

Corner Pass is scrambly but many hikers get up it. You don't have to be a climber. The current question is just how much snow and ice it has, though should improve by September. There are 2-3 good forum threads on this pass with pictures, should be easily found using search. Lots of reading there, and if you have more questions on the pass, feel free to post them on those threads. Also, due to the popularity of the Corner-Mafadi-Leslies loop, I have bookmarked pages with good info on the area, so go through those links (21 currently):
www.delicious.com/tag/Centenary-Hut-Corner-Pass-Mafadi-Leslies-Pass

Boerkie said:

In my mind I'm starting to form a clear picture of the Modus operandi of the smugglers although they will change this to suit conditions and most definitely from intel they receive from look-outs,scouts, villagers, Shepards and dare I say it,officials. It would be a mistake thinking of these guys as barefoot untrained locals looking to make a "quick" buck. These smuggling trips are planed and orchestrated almost like military operations,with exception to the rule, and probably by ex military trained personnel of either MK or SANDF.

Quite correct. And bad weather / winter does not hinder them either. Smuggling season is in full swing currently.

These soldiers were "dumped" in Lesotho by pre and post apartheid governments. I feel sorry for them as I have a world of respect for these soldiers. Now to think that they have to scratch a living for themselves in a foreign country, why not get involved in carrying a couple of bags across the border and again win the fight against old enemies? This might be speculation on my part but I'm pretty sure I'm hitting the nail on the head.

I have heard speculative, but probably fairly accurate comments, based on various encounters, that individuals from Lesotho's army are involved.

Will the smuggling ever stop? The answer is very easy, NO! It will never stop.How serious is SAPS/SANDF about border control? It is non-existent and a joke at best.

History of cross-border problems in the Berg spans well over a century! It is not quite as easy to control as we might think, but yes, the problem is not taken seriously enough. Cattle rustling is taken more seriously. Efforts are made, largely under the radar of public awareness, with some success stories. Allocated resources and manpower is limited. There are people out there who are trying to do something about it and who take it seriously. But a more realistic expectation for now is that the smuggling will be more contained and slowed down, rather than stopped.

All this being said I getting the idea that the crime that effects hikers security in the berg is NOT committed by the smugglers but by a few opportunistic individuals and these probably being shepards or plain straight forward criminals.I would love to hear your thoughts on this. I can live with sharing the berg with smugglers if we can co-exist peacefully. But make no mistake, try and steal my equipment and I'll come down on you from a dizzy height swinging a what ever "moering" tool I can find.

True, shepherds are more of a problem. However, smugglers have stolen stuff (there was new case about a month ago) and there have been confrontations - particularly around Organ Pipes. I had my own scary encounter years back while solo hiking in the area. Even if they don't do anything to us, the picture that armed drug smugglers are running around these mountains is a very wrong one. But as long as we are not a threat to them, it sort of works.

What would you guys that have had close contact with them say is the average age of these smuggler groups?

Have encountered teenagers, and men who were in their 30s and 40s. Women too. Some are intelligent, friendly and speak English. I'd say the main age range is probably mostly 20-30, difficult to say for sure though

You shouldn't have any issues around Lower Injisuti cave. Smugglers have been known to use Judge & Corner pass though which takes them past Centenary Hut, they are generally not a problem though. You could also consider your 2nd night at Marble Baths cave

Hi timmyw done loads of hiking in this area, day hikes overnight stays in all the caves , high berg and hut and have never had any security issues. Have seen traces, litter, of smugglers on Judges Pass and in Dinosaur cave. Enjoy the hike.

Uh oh...I rather liked the idea that they were not using Leslies. It may well have been used on occasion. Wind could not have blown bits of the bags as well as the scarf there.