The murder of Ukrainian tourist Ivan Ivanov has caused an uproar among many hiking groups across Cape Town. Ivanov was stabbed to death last Saturday, when he wanted to indulge in one of his favourite activities – hiking up Chapman’s Peak.
A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of Ukrainian hiker Ivan Ivanov.
“After the murder of a Ukrainian visitor on Chapman’s Peak, a second suspect has been arrested in connection for the crime. During the early hours of Wednesday, July 31, 2019, members of Hout Bay SAPS followed up on information which led to the arrest of a 24 year old suspect,” Hout Bay Community Policing Forum said in a statement. “He will appear in the Wynberg Magistrate court on Friday, August 2, 2019 on charges of murder.”
Ivanov was barely 10 metres from the parking lot when he was attacked and stabbed to death. The assailant, who appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court earlier this week, made off with the Ukrainian’s backpack.
The accused, whose name is Sinaye Mposelwa (24), will remain in custody until August 21, when he will appear again for his bail application.
As reported by IOL, Hout Bay Community Crime Prevention (Hout Bay CCP) is working tirelessly to ensure that Mposelwa is not released following his bail application. The Hout Bay CCP and other community authorities are alleged to have played a big role in apprehending the suspected killer, and have started a petition to oppose the bail application.
During an interview with CapeTalk on Monday, Andre van Schalkwyk, spokesperson from the Table Mountain Safety Action Group, expressed anger and frustration at how the group feels that there is no action being taken.
“The entire mountain is not a hotspot area. there are certain areas of concern and a lot of organisations including ourselves, are doing our utmost best to protect our hikers,” Laura Clayton, Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) said to CapeTalk. “There are processes that are in place that will assist us in the near future, but right now we have feet on the ground.”
Clayton has acknowledged that the TMNP does not currently have the technology, such as drones and camera, to help with monitoring safety.
“You need to understand that it is an open-access mountain and it is near impossible for us to be everywhere,” she added. “There are sufficient feet on the ground.”
Picture: Pixabay