Body found as rescuers search for missing hiker - IOL

The search for missing Table Mountain hiker Wayne Barnard took a grim turn on Thursday when rescuers found the body of a man on the mountain.

Barnard, 46, was reported missing on Wednesday after going hiking alone on Table Mountain.

He was last known to have made contact at 11.05am on September 16, 2026, when he shared his location and a photograph from the mountain, reportedly with his wife. His phone has since been switched off and he could not be reached.

A search operation involving SAPS and Wilderness Search and Rescue teams was launched after his disappearance was reported.

On Thursday at about noon, the teams found and recovered the body of an adult male on Table Mountain.

Police believe the body could be that of Barnard, but his identity had not been formally confirmed by his family by Thursday afternoon.

Provincial police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said the search followed a missing person’s case registered at Cape Town Central SAPS.

“Kindly be advised that a missing person’s case was registered on Wednesday, 2026-09-16 at Cape Town Central SAPS following reports of a 46-year-old male who got missing on Table Mountain.

"Members of SAPS and Wilderness Search and Rescue were activated to search for him on Table Mountain.

"On Thursday, 2026-09-17 at 12:00 the body of an adult male was found on Table Mountain by members of SAPS and Wilderness Search and Rescue Teams. While it is believed that the body located and recovered is that of the 46-year-old missing male who went missing on Wednesday, formal identification by family is in progress in cooperation with SAPS.

"An inquest was registered and a postmortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death.”

The circumstances surrounding the man’s death were not immediately known, and the postmortem is expected to establish the cause of death.

SANParks spokesperson Lauren Howard-Clayton referred IOL Media to SAPS when asked about Barnard’s disappearance.

“We cannot provide comment at this stage. Please contact the SAPS as it is a missing person's case.”

Attempts to reach Barnard’s wife for comment were unsuccessful.