Two cyclists were robbed at gunpoint at the Fort Klapperkop Nature Reserve on Saturday morning.

“They are both fine, but were robbed of their cellphones,” Friends of Groenkloof and Fort Klapperkop Nature Reserves chairperson Louis Geeringh said.

The robbery happened at the first speed hump, as the cyclists came from the R21 gate, he said.

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“In consultation with nature conservation and with the best interest of the public in mind, we are recommending that cyclists and runners do not go beyond the road going up to Fort Klapperkop until nature conservation and law enforcement have done a thorough inspection and have reviewed the security measures,” he said.

Geeringh added that they were patrolling the nature reserve and that additional security measures would be implemented.

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“From tomorrow, all trees on the outside and inside of the reserve that could potentially be used to gain easy access to the reserve will be cut,” he said, adding that culverts and stormwater drains would also be secured with razor wire.

Spots which criminals had previously used to gain access to the nature reserve and which could be used again, were already strengthened.

“I wish to assure the community that protecting Klapperkop and ensuring it is a safe environment is the highest priority of nature conservation. “We will work to find pragmatic solutions to ensure our natural jewels are protected,” he said.

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Geeringh added that pressure needed to be applied to council to ensure that the perimeter of the nature reserve was protected with barbed wire against the criminals who gained access to it from the Fountains circle.

Earlier in the week, a cyclist was robbed of his watch and cellphone when three robbers accousted him in the reserve.

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Geeringh said the incident, which occurred on Sunday, was the first in “many years”.

One of the robbers accousted the man with a knife while the other two threw rocks at him.

“The cyclist is fine, but his bike was damaged,” Geeringh added.

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