Security companies are to work with park authorities and police to make Cape Town's Signal Hill safe for visitors after dark, the city's mayoral committee member for tourism Simon Grindrod said on Thursday.

"The public and private sector have today sent a strong message that they will not surrender prime tourist attractions to criminal elements," he said in a statement.

After-dark access to the site, which gives a panoramic view of the city and Table Bay, was restricted some years ago after a series of muggings.

Grindrod said Chubb and Fidelity Security Services would join forces with the Table Mountain National Park and police to establish a 24-hour "security operations centre" on Signal Hill.

The companies were donating their services free of charge.

The plan, to come into operation on 13 May, would see the introduction of closed circuit television technology, foot patrols, panic buttons, motion detectors and increased lighting.

Public access to the viewing site would be until 1am.

Sapa