In a significant achievement ahead of the festive season, Cape Town police have set a new Guinness World Record by successfully hiking Table Mountain with a record-breaking number of participants. On Friday, the City of Cape Town deployed 1,000 students from the Public Safety Training College to conquer the iconic mountain, surpassing the previous record of 815 hikers set by Iraq in 2023.
This ambitious initiative, dubbed #Project1000, was attended by Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, who emphasized the event’s role in preparing for the busy holiday season. Participants ascended Table Mountain together, ultimately descending into Newlands Forest, where they were officially recognized for their achievement.
“Our Public Safety Training College is breaking records at a rapid pace,” Smith stated after the group earned their place in the Guinness Book of Records. “We are training more municipal peace officers than the rest of South Africa combined.”
Smith further highlighted the importance of instilling core values such as integrity, honor, and compassion within the police service, stating that these principles are foundational to the college’s training programs. “We are committed to building a police service that is respected and trusted,” he added.
This record-breaking hike serves as a significant public relations move for the police force, which has faced challenges in maintaining public trust. Following the ceremony, Commissioner Robbie Robberts unveiled the City of Cape Town’s festive season policing plan, with Smith expressing optimism for the future: “Because there is no holding us back now. We’re moving mountains…”
However, just hours after the hike, security concerns were once again brought to the forefront. On Saturday morning, a group of five hikers was targeted in a robbery while descending from the Steenberg Plateau along the Silvermine hiking trail. According to the non-profit organization Friends of Table Mountain, the hikers were ambushed by four assailants armed with a firearm and broken bottles, situated approximately 100 meters from the trailhead near Boyes Drive above Lakeside.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another robbery that occurred the previous Sunday, where two hikers were attacked by four men aged between 18 and 25 while ascending Deer Park toward Tafelberg Road before 7 AM.
As the Cape Town police bolster their presence on the city’s hiking trails, the need for vigilance remains crucial in ensuring the safety of outdoor enthusiasts.
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