A suspect has been arrested for allegedly starting a fire that burned along the front face of Table Mountain on Sunday. The fire, which prompted the closure of popular hiking routes, was contained by Sunday night.
The arrest followed a coordinated effort between SANParks rangers and the City’s law enforcement officers.
In a Facebook post on Sunday evening, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith confirmed that the fire had been contained by 7:50 PM, adding that helicopters used in firefighting operations were grounded but remained on standby for deployment at first light.
Earlier on Sunday, three suspects were spotted fleeing the area where the fire originated. SANParks reported that additional law enforcement resources were called in, and a perimeter was established.
One suspect was found hiding behind a rock and was subsequently detained. According to SANParks, the individual has been charged with arson in connection with the fire near Platteklip Gorge at Table Mountain National Park.
Efforts to obtain further details from the South African Police Service were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
The Western Cape provincial government has been increasing its wildfire response budget in recent years.
In February, it was reported that the province allocated R16 million for wildfire responses in 2024, up from R14.5 million in 2023.
However, by January, an additional R3 million was added to the aerial firefighting budget, bringing the total to R19 million. This additional funding was fully utilised by the end of the month.
The fire led to the closure of hiking routes such as Platteklip Gorge and the Contour Path. SANParks urged visitors to avoid the area, citing risks of flare-ups due to prevailing northeast winds.
While the Aerial Cableway remained operational, the Platteklip Hiking Trail was closed for safety reasons.
A City firefighter sustained injuries during operations and had to be airlifted to safety.
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