The rise in muggings in the Bo-Kaap in Cape Town is a cause for concern as it is already affecting tourism to the area, says local businesses.
A recent IOL report claimed that Bo-Kaap business owners were calling on local authorities to stop the crime wave that was “worsening daily, with residents and tourists mugged regularly”. It said there was poor police visibility, despite a number of arrests being made in the past few months.
Cape Town Tourism CEO, Enver Duminy, told Tourism Update he was concerned about the negative impact the spate of muggings will have on tourism. “Aside from the loss and personal trauma experienced by visitors who become the victims of a crime, incidents such as these feed the notion that safety and security concerns remain the biggest stumbling block to tourism growth in South Africa.”

Zainie Misbach, a resident of Bo-Kaap and owner of Bo-Kaap Cooking Tours, says tourists are turned off from visiting the area as vagrants lie at the door of her premises and often defecate in the street, close to where the tour buses stop. 
She says there is no one cleaning the streets and that police just ignore the problem.  Misbach says she constantly warns tourists, especially those carrying cameras to be vigilant and to keep out of the Kraal area, but that they often don’t feel threatened if they are with a big group and a tour guide. 

Monique le Roux, founder of Andulela Tours, says while none of her clients have been affected by the incidents, it will impact the number of tourists visiting the area. She says she always advises her clients to be aware of their surroundings, not leave anything of value in their cars, not flash any money out in the streets and to stick to certain areas. 
Le Roux says the best option for those visiting the area would be to go in a smaller group with a tour guide who is known by the locals. 
Economic Development and Tourism MEC, Alan Winde, told IOL he was happy to sit down with the community and discuss a strategy but that they needed to make use of the measures in place and report the crimes in the meantime. 
Duminy says: “All tourism services should have measures in place to guide visitors and advise them on their best options; making visitors aware that crime is a possibility, without causing alarm and upset, and providing them with general safety tips before they leave the premises.”
He adds that Cape Town Tourism cannot hope to make a difference alone and that it hosted regular safety forums with various security partners, including the SAPS, and industry role players. “The Safety Forum meets on a regular basis to discuss relevant topics and address issues that concern safety and security in Cape Town so as to make sure that we do all we can to empower the industry to ensure the safety of our visitors. However, each and every one of us should be extra vigilant and protective of our visitors,” says Duminy
Not all businesses in the Bo-Kaap are being affected though. Denise Crous, executive director: operations for Iziko Museums, which runs the Bo-Kaap Museum, says the vagrants do not interfere with visitors to the museum as the entrance is in Wale Street. “It does not affect the museum and no complaints have been received from staff or the museum’s neighbours with whom the site manager communicates regularly,” she adds.