MEDIA RELEASE
Sea, Air and Mountain operators arrests suspicious criminal
South African National Parks (SANParks) today announced an encouraging development in the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) Sea, Air and Mountain (SEAM) special operations rangers, as they embarked on their anti-crime operations across the park.
The TMNP Park Manager, Mr. Frans van Rooyen congratulated the SEAM operators who managed to remove those illegally overnighting in hot spot areas, and has welcomed the arrest and detainment of a suspected criminal this weekend.
This according to van Rooyen who confirmed that this is the start of our SEAM operators park wide deployment with a successful extended operation in the Signal Hill, Lions Head, Tafelberg road, and Table Mountain front face areas of the park. The unit with the canine detachment conducted covert and visible policing operations, supported by the South African Police Services (SAPS) and TMNP rangers.
On the 11th of December 2021, SEAM operators successfully removed individuals illegally overnighting in the Schotschekloof area of TMNP. On the 12th of December 2021, SEAM operators arrested a suspicious individual on the slopes of Signal Hill who was in possession of a dangerous weapon and drugs. It was later confirmed by the SAPS that the 35 year old male has an existing criminal record.
“We are grateful to have successes coming from the SEAM operators in their first official week of operation and we will continue to focus on these urban edge zones to ensure the safety of our visitors. We urge our surrounding communities to continue to help us in a fight to curb crime within and around Table Mountain National Park. Congratulations to the entire SEAM team, K9 unit, operations center management and stakeholders and we thank you for your dedication, discipline and tenacity,” concluded van Rooyen.
The suspects have been handed over to the SAPS for further investigation and will be appearing in court in due course.
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