Starting from the end of May and during at least the whole of June (incl the 30 June weekend) the MCSA has contracted two security personnel to patrol the Northern end of the MCSA Tonquani, Boulder Kloof and Cederberg properties.
These guards are employed by a security firm (Biz 32 Afrika Security) and are tasked with patrolling to help stop the spate of muggings and attacks on hikers and climbers that has seen a significant increase recently in all the properties in the area. The main focus of the guards is to identify individuals that are a threat to members and visitors to MCSA property and the guards are therefore not specifically focussing on identifying trespassers. Their patrol area has been set as the area from the lower pools at the bottom of Tonquani gorge, along the Northern edge of MCSA property, the area North of Boulder Kloof up to the road that enters from Calabash side. They are equipped with cellphones & radio’s.
Over weekend they will be patrolling this property several times a day and they should be easily recognisable in their black uniforms. Should you encounter them you can identify yourself as an MCSA member or permit holder and enquire if they have seen any signs of potential suspicious characters to keep informed about security threats. The security firm’s director of operations is Jaco and he can be contacted on 072 996 6818 about the patrols or any security issues during this time. Any observations hikers and climbers have with regards these security guards can be passed on the MCSA Committee members.
The MCSA expresses it’s thanks to Utopia (the neighbouring nature resort to the East) who has been very helpful by facilitating their accommodation over weekends.
The MCSA will evaluate the effectiveness and on-going cost of this effort after this initial period and are in on-going discussions with neighbouring property owners who are also concerned about the security issues. Watch out for more announcements on the MCSA mailing lists and/or enquire with the MCSA Administrators when booking permits.
For more information contact Grant Rens (MCSA Johannesburg member focussing on security) on 082 353 9662.
Photo: The lovely pools and kloofs in the Tonquani area and elsewhere in the Magaliesberg has seen a significant increase in muggings and caution and extra vigilance is advised.
Thanks Grant for your efforts to help find solutions to the crime problems in the Magaliesberg
We met the two guards while descending Frog gulley on Sunday. They had no clue as to where they were or what the area looks like (which might be a bit dangerous).
If you come across them, just ask if they need help or directions for this first period.
Thanks for the efforts. We appreciate it
I’ve never seen that pool in the picture at Tonquani. Where is that? Looks lovely
The photo is of the Grotto (it is actually on the MSP property to the west of Cederberg kloof – to get there take the right hand/western turn when you pass the little reservoir just above the MSP camp site).
It is good that the guards get to know the area but it is perhaps important to know that Frog Gulley and Cederberg kloof itself and further south to the escarpment is not part of the area they should cover in their patrols. The partols need to focus on the key problem areas.
Hi
Thanks for helping out the guards on Sunday. The basic idea is that they stick to the area they were assigned to Patrol, because if they widen their Patrol area then the zone they were allocated will not be guarded. As you are probably aware this area is a large landmass & the kloofs are heavy going in terms of movement, so we would like them to stick to the top & patrol their allocated zone as this covers the northern reaches of the land & allows for observation from good highpoints.
Should anyone have any recommendations in this regard please forward them to the MCSA office. Uschi can collate these & we can look at them as we weigh up the way forward.
Thank you Grant and the rest of the MCSA committee for this! Lets hope this initiative will end the problems we’ve been having.
Grant and the MCSA, thank you for organising this.