Calabash-Tonquani mugging incident

Update from MCSA on security incident which took place this weekend:

INCIDENT WALKING FROM CALABASH TO TONQUANI. Permit holders were attacked when walking from Calabash parking towards Tonquani. This did not happen in the kloof but on top. Two of the group (of a bigger group, had to turn back because of one feeling ill) were mugged and held at gun point by three African men for nearly 5 hours. Fortunately no one was hurt.

This is a very sad and worrying situation. Please be very aware when ‘out there’, don’t take valuables, bank cards.

The committees are working on the security problem.

Personally I would advise people not to use the Calabash access. Rather park at MSP, where you cannot readily be seen accessing the kloofs. Also it would appear for now that they are not bothering getting into the kloofs (though the Grootkloof incidents show that they can do this), and so it would appear that for now Tonquani Kloof forms a barrier keeping them to the northern side. Do not camp at Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee campsite. Avoid the lower pools at Lower Tonquani (it could very well be the same people). Avoid walking to the upper end of Boulder Kloof (rather access it through the bottom end of the kloof, though a little more arduous - at least no one will see you accessing the kloof). Go in big groups. Get yourself a cheap cellphone to take along on climbs. If you are going to leave your wallet and cards behind, I suggest taking cash along - this can appease them should there be problems. Better than angering them by not having anything they are after.

Sad trend this...

I think there is something to be done, and if we don't we'll be worse off. MCSA is looking into the situation seriously. If anyone out there can help towards that with resources and contacts, or can be involved with patrols, please contact me via PM.

I don't know about ambush/mugging problems on the South side access. The old parking spot had issues with cars broken into. I have not kept abreast with all the latest changes to where you park now.

As for how to be less vulnerable: this is a learning game for us all. We need to become hard targets, not soft targets. Stay away from the problem area for starters would be my first advice: don't use Calabash access, and don't go to Grootkloof with no security patrol watching you. Go in big groups, I'd say less than 8 can be a soft target. Arm yourself with sticks, batons, pepper spray etc and know how to use them. Do courses in self-defence, security in the bush etc (courses like that exist). Be extremely alert, act quickly and think through all the scenarios with your group so that you all know what to do. Have relevant phone numbers handy.