This is a warning for all climbers who use the Magaliesberg Area TODAY as there is currently a crime wave taking place there, with numerous armed robberies taking place all around the area of Grootkloof & Cedarberg Tonquani. In specific they have attacked the Sparkling Waters hotel & Mountain Sanctuary, with incidents taking place at Utopia as well. Previously there have been muggings in the mountains, with some considerable threat of violence & some have been stabbed. This has been ongoing for a few years now, with the MCSA attempting to address this through armed guards with groups & unarmed guards on a beat. Both of these approaches have been limited in their success.

My objective is not to be alarmist but for all climbers to be aware (hikers too if they read this forum) and hopefully to do something (otherwise we might as well admit that the crooks own the mountains). The police are investigating the current situation but it does not mean they will be in a place to protect you if you are out in the bush, so either don’t go or contact the mountain club as we plan to put some new initiatives in place but we need your support.

So if you care about going out into the Magaliesberg to climb & enjoy nature then come along to the meeting that is being held at the MCSA Johannesburg club house at 19h30 on Wednesday night (13 February 2013). We particularly would like Magaliesberg members along as well as we value their input & their proximity to this situation.

It will take place at the Waverley Girl Guide Hall (our club evening) cnr Scott and Stirling Str, Waverley.

If you are able to help in any way contact Uschi at the Joburg Mountain Club on 011 807 1310.

From MCSA JHB chairman:

We can report some good news on the crime situation in the Magaliesberg. A number of arrests have been made in the Magaliesberg kloofs area by the police and with the assistance of staff members of local establishments. We hope that the area is returning to the situation we faced last year – not completely safe yet, but hopefully the wave of crime we have experienced recently will subside to a degree now. Therefore, we would like to lift the warning issued earlier to our members not to vsit the Tonquani/Cedarberg/Boulderkloof and Grootkloof areas, although we continue to advise our members to exercise caution when visiting these areas.

Hi

A very positive meeting last night & a good turn out. Thanks to all who came. We have come up with some ideas which we will pursue and keep you all posted on the progress, If anyone would still like to contribute useful ideas, time or money please contact Uschi (011) 807 1310.

Thanks also to Justin for helping us post this.

Grant
MCSA JHB Security