The search for a Muizenberg man who went missing while out on a hike, entered its fourth day on Sunday, with family and friends scouring areas around Table Mountain.

“We are definitely hopeful,” volunteer search co-ordinator Brent Jennings told News24 from the mountain on Sunday afternoon.

He said Taro Spies, 25, left his home on Tuesday. His car was found on Tafelberg Road by workers on Wednesday morning.

“We suspect that he, being an active keen hiker and a very fit guy, parked his car and he went for a hike”.

His parents reported his disappearance to police.

“We had a lot of people out yesterday [Saturday], pretty much eight search and rescue teams covering various areas, packing up well after sunset”.

More than 40 people – including his parents, brother and friends – resumed the search at 08:00 on Sunday and were expected to finish when it was dark.

Jennings said they were searching areas based on a number of likely scenarios and remained hopeful because someone who was fit and strong could survive the elements if they had sufficient shelter.

Part of the search included caves on Table Mountain.

He said chances of survival diminished with injuries or falls.

“The problem with Table Mountain is that it might seem very small but it is actually quite vast and a tremendously complex terrain. It is difficult for people to search thoroughly.”

Search teams had scoured various parts of Devil’s Peak, the Twelve Apostles, Orange Kloof in Hout Bay and the lower slopes of Vredehoek.

Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that the police search and investigation continued. News24