Cape Town: The City has condemned vandalism of Princess Vlei trail infrastructure. The City is appealing to Capetonians for information after infrastructure along the Princess Vlei trail was vandalised just after the three weeks of its official opening.
The initial information received by the unknowns, indicates that a group of suspects has removed wooden stats from one of the footbridges along the 4.23 km circulatory trail in the early hours of Monday, June 30, 2026. The City Rangers caught the suspected in the act, but they fled the scene and left the wood behind.
Considering this, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham stated that it is deeply disappointing that the infrastructure at Princess Vlei has been targeted just weeks after this community facility was opened. The Recreation and Parks Department is doing what it can, within the available resources to maintain a security presence on site.
As per the sources, Princess Vlei is an open space, and the trail is several kilometres long. So, the community vigilance is essential. Since then, it has also emerged that multiple signs have been damaged and at least one of the sign boards have been defaced.
Reportedly, the City of Cape Town has invested R10.2 million in the circulatory trail and is working in partnership with the Princess Vlei Forum and local communities.
According to Cllr Francine Higham, the City team has strongly condemned such destruction and disregard for the collective efforts to ensure the universal access to community facilities. The responsibility rests with each and every one of them to guard community assets for the enjoyment of all.
Such incidents of theft and vandalism have been reported earlier also. City Metro Police known as SAPS has been investigating about such incidents continuously in the past also.
The most recent infrastructure vandalism in Cape Town includes the targeted destruction of the newly built Princess Vlei Trail and a massive surge in Electrical Grid Theft and Damage. The City has also heavily combated vandalism that affected MyCiTi bus routes and water sanitation networks.