Begging begging begging and other Cape Town, South Africa Warning Or Danger Tips

One huge problem in Cape Town is the constant begging. They are everywhere you go, especially at traffic lights. Most people drive with their window up, especially at night, as some of the people begging get quite cloooooose...

Just be straight with them, say 'I cannot help you, sorry', try not to enter into conversation with them, as they are the most amazing story tellers!

If you really feel sorry for him/her buy him a loaf of bread and give it to him/her.

Plse dont get me wrong, there are legitimate beggars out there, with a genuine need. But most beggars are begging out of choice, they want no responsibility, are alcoholics and often drug addicts too.

There are shelters and churches and charities throughout South Africa that take them in, so they need not beg.

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In the last couple of years, sharks have made themselves known to the inhabitants of Cape Town more than ever. They usually keep away from the net-free beaches, and congregate near the seal island... the one outside Hout Bay and the other island in False Bay itself.

What is making them come close to the beaches, no-one knows for sure, but there have been some serious attacks, a couple of fatalities and some close encounters!

Tina Webb, a 79 year old Fish Hoek resident was swimming in 2004... her usual early morning swim. She was doing backstroke and people from the beach could see the huge 6ft shark coming toward her, but she couldnt hear their warnings... it was too late for her and the shark attacked her and ate her whole. The only item remaining as proof that she had been there was blood and her red swimming cap.

A terrifying thing to happen to anyone, this is the first fatality in Fish Hoek in over a century, so people havent panicked hugely. They are taking extra precautions though and there is nowa permanent watch from the hills on either side of Fish Hoek beach, watching for sharks. They radio down to the lifesaving club if they see anything suspicious, and the beach is then cleared.

These photos were taken by our friend Graham, in False Bay in 2005.

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In the last few years, the occurances of sharks coming close to the shore has quadrupled.

When we last stayed in Fish Hoek we heard the shark sirens go off four times in ONE day!

They are coming in close to the shore where the bathers are, something they usually do not do.

There are no shark nets and swimmers are reliant on the shark spotters sitting atop the hills on either side of Fish Hoek Beach, who let the lifeguards on the beach know (via walkie-talkies) when they see a shark swimming too close.

Seal Island is in False Bay, and it is for this reason that the sharks have always stayed to that side of the Bay, but for reasons unknown, they are changing direction and swimming closer to the beaches nowadays.

Some blame the shark dive companies, some blame the fishermen, some blame global warming.. whatever the cause, just be careful and do not swim out too far!

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