Visitor experience improved as TMNP halts indemnity form requirement

Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) has suspended the indemnity and verification form requirement at its gates with immediate effect, in the latest shift following a series of changes announced last week.

In a notice posted on Friday, TMNP confirmed that the interim measure — which required visitors to complete indemnity forms at park entrances — had been withdrawn after triggering delays and frustration.

“The measure was introduced to strengthen verification and governance processes. However, SANParks acknowledges that its implementation led to operational delays and visitor frustration. We have listened to the concerns raised by visitors and tourism partners and have acted decisively,” TMNP said.

The indemnity requirement was initially introduced as part of efforts to tighten governance and entry procedures ahead of the rollout of a digital ID scanning system for South African residents. All visitors, including tour operators and SADC nationals, were required to complete forms, while local visitors had to provide ID numbers to qualify for discounted rates.

Following public criticism, TMNP narrowed the requirement earlier in the week, limiting digital ID scanning to high-volume access points at Cape Point (Cape of Good Hope) and Boulders Penguin Colony, and retaining indemnity forms only at designated picnic and braai facilities such as Newlands Forest, Oudekraal, Silvermine and Tokai.

The latest update suspends the indemnity form requirement entirely during a 12-month transition period.

TMNP said it would implement a fully digitised ID and passport verification system at park gates over the next year, including high-speed scanning technology aimed at ensuring accurate compliance while improving the visitor experience.

Gate operations will continue without the indemnity form requirement while the new system is phased in.

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Cape Argus