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SANParks fines Take Back Our Mountains over guided hike

Published

SANParks treated a 16-person guided hike as an event and fined the community initiative. Founder Taahir Osman says the group is considering withdrawing some activities from Table Mountain and wants clarity on permit rules.

The hike charged R150 a person. Osman said it was meant to create paid opportunities for unemployed men. He described his role in the hike this way: "I'm the registered guide, and I'll bring in people from the Khoi and San to talk about the history of Table Mountain and the culture".

Take Back Our Mountains has run clean-ups, safety patrols and educational hikes since 2018. Osman said the clean-ups need a permit because the group pays a stipend to about 30 community members who do the cleaning.

Osman said the organisation still waits for a memorandum of understanding with SANParks. The two sides first discussed it in 2023.

Key facts

Who
Taahir Osman (founder of Take Back Our Mountains); Take Back Our Mountains (community initiative fined by SANParks); SANParks (fined the organisation for a guided hike classified as an event)
What
SANParks fined the community initiative Take Back Our Mountains after a 16-person guided hike was classified as an event. Founder Taahir Osman says the organisation is considering withdrawing some activities from Table Mountain and wants clarity on permit requirements.
When
28 October 2026
Where
Table Mountain, Hout Bay
Status
Reported

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