[Image: Wikimedia Commons]
The body of a 53-year-old Belgian national was found on Signal Hill on Sunday morning, 2 February.
The cause of death has yet to be determined, according to police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg, who confirmed that an investigation is underway.
“The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation. A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” said Twigg.
“The identity of the person will be released once his family have been notified.”
While this incident may very easily have been caused by health-related issues, like a heart attack or dehydration, one can’t help but recall how unsafe Signal Hill can be. Just over two weeks ago, on 21 January 2025, a couple was left traumatised when two knife-wielding youngsters attacked them while on the Signal Hill Jeep Track, per IOL.
The husband was stabbed in the shoulder, blood blooming through his shirt, as chaos erupted. His wife, fighting back, was shoved hard to the ground when one of the thugs lunged at her, tearing a silver choker from her neck. The couple was rushed to the nearest emergency room.
Just days earlier, a 50-year-old woman was walking alone on the foothills between Lion’s Head and Signal Hill when a knife-wielding skelm ambushed her. He stripped her of her wedding ring, four other rings, and her phone, leaving her rattled but alive.
Table Mountain National Park’s (TMNP) latest report revealed a mixed bag of news: 60 verified crime incidents in November, December, and January. While robberies were down by 40% compared to the previous season, there were seven more attempted robberies.
“The crime hotspots are primarily located on the lower slopes of Signal Hill, including areas such as Fresnaye, Bo-Kaap and Tamboerskloof, extending to the Pipe Track, Deer Park and Rhodes Memorial,” warns NPO Take Back Our Mountains’ Taahir Osman.
While we welcome the slight drop in crime stats, TMNP still urges mountain-goers to be sharp and ready when out in the wild. Solo hikes or small groups are risky, and vigilance always remains key.
[Source: Cape {town} Etc]