In the last few weeks several criminal incidents have been reported on hiking trails throughout Cape Town, yesterday a man was killed while hiking. According to reports, the 56-year-old man was stabbed to death by a man wearing a security uniform while on a trail. The incident occurred at Echo Valley, in the Table Mountain National Park above Kalk Bay earlier on Sunday.
The man was with his wife when the attack happened, luckily she managed to escape unharmed.
Wilderness Search and Rescue spokesperson Johann Marais said that the couple were initially attacked by a man throwing rocks, he then approached them armed with a knife.
“The patient, unfortunately, died of his injuries he sustained in the attack. The police assisted by their helicopter were quick to respond and the search for the assailant is ongoing. The police was assisted by their dog unit.” he said.
Western Cape Police spokesperson, Noloyiso Rwexana, said the suspect wore a security uniform at the time of the attack.
“Muizenberg police are investigating a case of murder in Echo Valley, along Boyes Drive in the Muizenberg area. According to information a 56-year-old man was hiking with his wife when he was attacked by an unidentified suspect, who is yet to be arrested.”
A spate of attacks on hikers has occurred during the December and January holidays which prompted SANparks to deploy additional security in the area.
The latest attack has caused an outcry on social media:
The man who fatally stabbed a hiker in the forest above Kalk Bay this morning was dressed in the colours of a Table Mountain ranger: khaki pants & short sleeved olive green shirt. This takes things to a whole new level folks
— Lucy Lastic (@rosiecrackers) January 28, 2018
Hiker stabbed just now. Be careful in the #Silvermine area above Echo Valley
— Table Mountain Watch (@TableMntnWatch) January 28, 2018
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http://www.capetownetc.com/news/cyclists-at-knifepoint-in-stellenbosch/
http://www.capetownetc.com/news/group-hikers-stabbed-silvermine-trail/
Picture: Pixabay