Kenwyn father warns of e-scooter risks following daughters' injuries on promenade
The girl sustained injuries including a hole in a chin, which caused bleeding.
Image: Supplied
A Kenwyn father has spoken out after an incident on the Sea Point Promenade when his young daughters had an encounter with speeding e-scooters on Wednesday, April 1.
Hoosain Cassoo said he saw his 7-year-old knocked to the ground by a speeding electric scooter, leaving her with significant bruising and facial cuts.
The incident occurred as the family was finishing an evening walk and only meters from their car, when a minor riding an electric scooter collided with his child, he said.
"She was left crying and in shock with her chin swollen and bleeding, which required us to visit the hospital to assess the injury," he angrily said.
"X‑rays revealed no fractures, but medical staff diagnosed swelling and soft‑tissue injury to her knee and an orthopedic follow‑up has been arranged."
But Cassoo said the emotional toll on his child has been significant.
"She already asked us repeatedly why we took her there (Sea Point Promenade) and that she doesn't ever want to go back there again," he said.
Injuries sustained when a e-scooter knocked down a 7-year-old on Sea Point Promenade.
Image: Supplied
In the same short walk back, his 10-year-old daughter was almost knocked over by a second scooter rider, he said.
Cassoo described scooters approaching silently at speed and riders behaving “recklessly,” often weaving through pedestrian crowds and children without regard for safety.
This personal story comes after growing concern among users of the promenade about e‑scooter safety.
In January residents described a rise in electric scooter and e-bike use as an 'accident waiting to happen," with pedestrians complaining of high speeds, riders with no helmets and near-misses around children and the elderly.
Current City of Cape Town policy allows bicycles and electric devices — including e‑scooters — to share the promenade with pedestrians. However, this shared‑use approach has led to an increase in tensions and safety complaints, with calls from the community to reconsider whether high‑speed motorised devices have a place in heavily foot‑trafficked spaces used by families and vulnerable pedestrians.
“It’s not just about my daughter,” Cassoo said. “This is about other families, other children. People need to know that what’s happening out here is unsafe.”
The City of Cape Town said the regulation of e-bikes posed challenges as national legislation does not clearly address the use thereof.
"An e-bike is not a vehicle, no age restrictions or speed limits are currently in place," The City of Cape Town said.
They added that most of the operators on the Sea Point Promenade set voluntary speed restrictions of 15km/h.
"The City’s Recreation and Parks Department is actively looking at how to reduce the potential for conflict between the various promenade users."
Residents can report incidents to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 with a detailed description including the exact location, date and time.