Hidden Community of Table Mountain Slopes Uncovered as Residents View Urban Cape Town as Primary Danger

Explore the stories of Anselm Sauls and Fozia Kammies, who lived for a decade on Table Mountain, viewing the mountain as safety and Cape Town as a danger.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from CapeTalk

A Sanctuary Carved Within the Mountain Wilderness

The iconic slopes of Table Mountain, long viewed by tourists and locals as a rugged natural landmark, have been revealed to house a persistent and largely invisible human community. Journalist Don Pinnock, contributing to a series titled "The Storied Mountain," documented the lives of Anselm Sauls and Fozia Kammies, who managed to survive on the terrain for more than ten years. Their existence relied on the tactical use of natural resources, including a nearby stream for fresh water and dense vegetation to conceal their makeshift shelters from public view.

Inverting the Perception of Urban and Natural Hazards

The findings challenge conventional perceptions regarding the safety of the Cape Town metropolitan area versus the mountain's wild interior. While the city's general population often views the mountain as a place of potential peril, the individuals living on the slopes maintain the opposite perspective. For Sauls and Kammies, the mountain represents a secure refuge where they have mastered the art of survival. According to Pinnock, these residents view the urban landscape below as the true source of danger, descending only occasionally to seek manual labor or utilize public facilities.

The Architecture of Invisible Domestic Life

The physical reality of living on the "berg" involves extreme resourcefulness and a deep integration with the ecology of the mountain. Pinnock described visiting a shelter hidden within a thicket where a large fallen log provided a natural canopy for their living space. Despite the lack of modern infrastructure, the residents maintained a functional domestic life within the bush, utilizing the landscape to create a hidden home. This invisible community is interconnected, with various individuals recognizing one another and sharing knowledge of the terrain to maintain their lifestyle away from the city's shack settlements.