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Visitors to South Africa's premier holiday destination who are worried about becoming victims of the country's high crime rate could find themselves instead robbed by a more furry kind of felon: baboons.
The cheeky primates have learned how to open car doors and jump through windows in pursuit of tasty sandwiches and snacks.
City officials are battling to control the increasingly aggressive troupes and there are fears the problem will only worsen with the influx of visitors to Cape Town during the World Cup next year.
On Tuesday, a troupe of 29 baboons raided four cars outside Simon's Town, a small coastal neighborhood. A baboon dubbed "Fred," the leader of the group, opened unlocked doors and jumped through windows to search for food.
He ransacked a bag in the back seat of a red car as a couple panicked about their passports. A girl screamed nearby as a baboon hopped into her car through a back window. Others climbed on car roofs and hoods, looking for ways inside.
Many of those who stopped to watch the raid had their own cars broken into by other baboons.
"We spend the whole day basically rescuing tourists," said Mark Duffels, a volunteer who monitors the baboons in an effort to keep them at bay.
There are about 420 baboons in 17 troupes that roam the city's outskirts, especially the popular scenic sites along the coast. Baboons are a protected species under South African legislation but their persistent pursuit of food has led to conflict with residents.
The baboons associate humans and cars with food although people are strongly discouraged from feeding the animals.
But Justin O' Riain, head of the baboon research unit at the University of Cape Town, fears that the influx of visitors next year will only feed the primates' taste for human foods even more.
"Tourism is going to go through the roof, and this equals exposure to naive people and rich pickings," he said. "People who stop the car, they're going to get raided."
Concerned Simon's Town residents asked Monday for a crossing gate to be put up on the road that leads to the nearby Cape of Good Hope nature reserve.
Cars would be stopped before they enter baboon territory and given a brochure in their native language explaining why they should stay in their cars, lock their doors and close their windows if they see baboons.
"We're so anxious about tourists who can't read or understand English. It puts them at risk," said Liz Hardman, who is leading the campaign. "The perception is that the baboons are harmless and they're not. They're wild animals."
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Renault Twingo Gordini Renaultsport Revealed
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Renault has announced the new Twingo Gordini Renaultsport which will debut at the Atelier Renault on the Champs-Elysées, in Paris on January 10, 2010. As previously announced, the little Twingo marks the revival of the successful Gordini/ Renault partnership.
Gordini touches have been restricted to styling which is characterised by the combination of French blue and white racing stripes on the exterior. A choice of two paint colours, Malta Blue or Pearlescent Black metallic will be made available. The tyres are encased in 17-inch alloy wheels with a polished face and a black inner rim. Buyers can specify a 'Cup' chassis with a lower ride height, stiffer springs and dampers as well as the same 17-inch alloy wheels but with Malta blue inner rims instead.
The 1.6-litre naturally aspirated engine was not tweaked and remains at 98kW. But the exhaust note is especially tuned to give a throaty note under acceleration. The steering wheel offers good feedback and is precise according to the Renault statement.
Other Gordini features include blue and black Gordini-embossed leather seats, blue leather door panel inserts, blue gearlever gaiter and Gordini-badged gearlever knob and a blue rev counter with white surround. Additional equipment from the Renault shelf includes automatic climate control, cruise control, a radio/ CD/ MP3 player and a fully disconnectable ESP system.
UK sales will commence in March 2010, not long after prices are announced.
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Wimmer RS Porsche GT2 Speed Biturbo with 608kW
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Wimmer RS has unveiled their bi-turbo Porsche 911 GT2 Speed.
Based on the standard 997 GT2, the Speed features two Wimmer turbochargers and revisions to the engine block, pistons, connecting rods, injector nozzles, sports camshafts, inlet system, and throttle valve. Wimmer also installs an intercooler, replaces the engine software, and adds a specially tuned performance exhaust system.
Thanks to these modifications, the engine produces a staggering 608 kW and 948 Nm of torque. The GT2 Speed accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, 0-300 km/h in 20.2 seconds, and hit a top speed of 378 km/h. This is quite comparable to Sportec's own hyper 911 known as the SPR1 M with 609kW.
Other goodies include a carbon fiber rear lip spoiler, carbon fiber rear-view mirrors, H&R sport springs, and Sportec wheels outfitted with Dunlop Sport Maxx GT tires.
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Britain's Bloodhound Project Seeks 1000 MPH Record
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The BLOODHOUND Project is gaining momentum following several breakthroughs by the project's team. The project aims to break the land speed record by achieving velocities of over 1,000mph (1,609km/h) while simultaneously getting school children interested in mathematics and science. Already there are 2,410 schools that have signed up for the BLOODHOUND Education programme in the UK.
Progress has also been made on the actual car, the SSC. A final design has been approved after ten design evolutions. The initial 200kg power rocket was deemed insufficient and a new hybrid rocket weighing 400kg has now been fitted. Wheels were designed by Lockheed Martin UK to withstand forces of 50,000 radial g at the rim and support a 6.5 tonne car travelling at 1,050mph (1,690km/h). As for thrust, a total of about 212kN (47,500 lb) is produced from both the rocket and the installed EJ200 jet engine taken from the Eurofighter Typhoon. That is about the same as what 180 Formula One cars make.
The extra power and aerodynamic challenges posed by the new plant called for redesigns which are now believed to be sufficient to keep the whole car on land without destabilising it. The interior was designed to resemble a fighter jet cockpit to which the SSC is compared on the graphical presentation in the video.
The record attempt needed a straight, flat surface covering at least 10 miles (16km). After much research and study, the Hakskeen Pan in South Africa's Northern Cape province was chosen as the ideal location. It has a 12 mile (19km) long flat track with a surface that, although currently covered with some debris, will be cleaned up in time for the final 2011 record attempt.
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Hooting motorist foils hijacking
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A Heidelberg woman says she was pulled over by two "policemen" in Murray Street in Southgate on Monday, and told: "You're cheeky and it's going to cost you your life."
Madelene Diedericks, 37, says she was threatened by a man in a police uniform as she was on her way to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital to visit her sister, when her nightmare began.
"These days I drive to the hospital from Heidelberg every day to visit my sister, Meisie Joubert, 47. She was involved in a car accident on October 30 and has been fighting for her life in the Intensive Care Unit at that hospital ever since," she said.
"On the Vereeniging highway, two men dressed like Saps members drove behind me in an unmarked black VW Golf with blue lights in the front window."
Pulled over
According to Diedericks, two other "policemen" in a white Ford Focus, also with blue lights, pulled her over near the Southgate shopping mall, supposedly because they were looking for drugs and stolen vehicles.
The men in the Golf drove past and later turned around, but didn't stop.
One of the men who'd been driving in the Ford ordered Diedericks to get out of her brand new Nissan 4x4 bakkie, after they presented cards to identify themselves as police officials.
"I refused, because they were being aggressive and I didn't feel at ease, despite the fact that they showed me police identity cards."
According to Diedericks, one of the men pulled her out of her car and became angry because she apparently remained standing too close to the car door.
"Then he wanted me to switch on my car, supposedly to see if it was a stolen vehicle. (He) pressed a firearm to my head when I again refused."
Hit with firearm
It was then that he apparently told her she's far too cheeky and that she will pay for it with her life.
"Meanwhile, another motorist had stopped behind us, hooted and motioned with his thumb in the air, as if to ask if everything is okay."
Diedericks said it was then that the "policeman" hit her over the head with his firearm, nonchalantly climbed into the “police” vehicle and drove off.
According to Thivhulawi Tshilate, Heidelberg police spokesperson, the Mondeor police are investigating a case of attempted hijacking.
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Latest safety ratings out
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Euro NCAP has announced safety ratings for 12 cars, including three that will shortly be making their way to South Africa.
Ten of the vehicles achieved the maximum five points in the overall rating using the new scoring method.
The latest results dished up quite a few surprises.
Chevrolet was the biggest with its Cruze sedan scoring five points and the all-new Spark (due in South Africa in the second half of 2010) scoring four in the overall ratings. The Spark missed out on the maximum five stars since it was not fitted with electronic stability control as standard.
These results are especially notable following the Aveo's woeful appearance in 2006 when the car received a one star strikethrough result in testing.
Dr Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP’s secretary general says: "We congratulate Chevrolet. The company has bounced back with two cars that have a commendable level of safety performance.
"The result from Toyota is disappointing, but in 2010, we predict further results like these as Euro NCAP’s next stage of the rating scheme kicks in and requirements become even tougher."
Toyota's Urban Cruiser received an overall rating of three stars.
In other testing, the BMW X1, Citroën DS3, Mazda3, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Opel Astra and Volkswagen Scirocco all scored five star results.
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