We rounded the corner on the track above Rhodes memorial, and there > suddenly are 2 guys in the road. Somehow, instinctively, instantly we > both knew this is it, we are on, today is our turn. Rob who was > slightly ahead managed to pass them, the one guy running after him. I > was faced with a 6ft, fit young black African man, knife above his > head, at the ready. I stopped, got off the bike, very slowly, ensuring > every single movement indicated calm, reeked of calm. I looked down, > lowered my shoulders, submitting, saying nothing, standing very still. > He grabbed my arm, I noted the prison tattoos on his arm, I was aware > of that blade, he said 2 words, "Your wallet". ****, I knew I did not > have it on me, I knew my camel pack contained water, and nothing else. > You just know he wants something, and nothing, is not good. > I said, calmly, like I was talking to a friend, 'I have no wallet, > sorry, no money'. He said, 'cell phone', and, 'money, your money', I > want money'. I felt his nervousness, he was agitated my friend had got > away; he was agitated I said, 'no money'. His dull blade was now > being jabbed threateningly at my body, my neck, my face. He looked > directly at me, repeating 'I want money', and then 'I am dangerous, > give me money'. It's a negotiation and I had nothing of value to > offer. With relief, I remembered I had my blackberry in my pocket, He > saw it in my hand, and immediately I felt his relief, the satisfaction > from him. Then again 'money', 'I want money', I opened my pack and > saying, 'my friend I am sorry I have no money', gesturing for him to > witness the bags emptiness. > > > > I felt him instantly, believe me. Suddenly, urgently he changed tack, > he wanted my shoes, my socks, my jacket, I knew it was almost over, I > felt this was his way of closure. I was hoping the threatening knife > was going to remain just that, a threat above my head, a strong > negotiation tool. > > > > The moment hung and then he turned and ran, with his mate, down the hill. > > > > This would have taken no more than a minute or two. I was left in the > road, amazingly my bike still on the ground. My friend Rob, who had > stopped and waited a little down the hill, wisely not provoking the > shaky negotiation, his rape spray keeping the other guy at bay, now > pedaled hard as the 2 of them bore down on him. A dual suspension > Niner, with an adrenalin filled rider, fortunately, travels down hill, > faster than any man. He was safe. > > > > I immediately rode barefoot to Rhodes memorial and called the mountain > security. From that moment on the frustration shifted to the lack of > response, the utterly inadequate planning. I witnessing that between > table mountain security, and the police, there is just no reaction > plan, zipo response to a life threatening mugging. > > > > By the time TMS eventually took my description of the men, 20 minutes > later, I knew they were long gone. The police arrived 1 hour later > with no intention, inclination or resource to respond. > > > > This mugging, along with the many others raises the big question. Who > and how are we going to take back our heritage site mountain. And > what plan, response or intention does our city council have. We got > away lucky, the next mountain negotiation might not end that way.
