Cango Caves safety being probed

2007-01-09 20:40

Oudtshoorn - Allegations of negligence on the part of Cango Caves guides are to be investigated by management and the Oudtshoorn municipality, reported the Herald Online on Tuesday.

This follows an incident at the renowned Southern Cape tourist attraction last Sunday in which three foreign and one local tourist were left stranded underground in the dark.

A week previously, there was a major rescue operation in which 23 people were trapped behind a woman who got stuck in one of the cave's tight tunnels.

Cango Caves manager Hein Gertsner told the Herald that in the latest incident proper guiding procedures had not been followed.

He said protocol had been breached.

Not pressing charges

Guides were supposed to count people before they went up the ladder to the adventure section and then count them again on the way back.

Gertsner said that although the tourists were not pressing charges, the municipality was taking the incident seriously. He said normal safety regulations had not been followed.

The Herald said the Oudtshoorn municipality would not comment on the safety aspects of the caves. Deputy mayor, James Sweigelaar, referred all queries to Gertsner.

Capetonian Amanda Claassen said she and three other tourists had fallen behind their group, and were told to follow a string of lights to the exit.

While they were doing so the lights went out, and they took a wrong turn and got lost.

Claassen told the Herald: "Initially, we started calling for the tour guide. We didn't think the guide was that far ahead.

"After that, the lights were switched off and we shouted louder."

She said they were in "total, utter darkness".

"Luckily, we were close to an emergency phone in the Devil's Chimney and we called the police. The rescue took about an hour and a half."

'Must jack up safety'

The lost group struggled for half an hour with the phone because a key was stuck.

Claassen said the four had met officials from the municipality and were assured that safety at the caves would be investigated.

"We hope that they jack up standard safety precautions - and basic precautions need to be implemented - somebody doesn't have to die before they sort it out," she said.

- SAPA