Bystanders attempted to show Cape law enforcement officers how they truly felt by stoning them as they left Hout Bay harbour. This comes after the officers allegedly busted suspects for fishing illegally, reports IOL.
The City’s Law Enforcement Marine and Environmental Unit alongside Table Mountain National Parks (TMNP) rangers have been hard at work fighting illegal fishing in the Marine Protected Area between Hout Bay and Kommetjie.
It was during a routine patrol of this route that the officers came across a boat that had been illegally catching crayfish just below Chapman’s Peak. After realizing that they had been spotted, the illegal fisherman dropped the crayfish and began to flee towards Hout Bay harbour.
According to Wayne Dyason, Law Enforcement inspector at the City of Cape Town, “a high-speed sea chase ensued which ended in Hout Bay harbour, with the suspects abandoning the boat and making a getaway through the parking area.”
“The boat which was left idling by the suspects in the shallows was impounded along with several oxygen tanks and towed across the waters to Simon’s Town,” stated Dyason.
“The officers were stoned by bystanders as they left the harbour with the boat in tow.”
Meanwhile, illegal fishing has been a problem in the Western Cape. In particular, illegal abalone fishing. Earlier in May, two suspects were caught with R9.9 million worth of dried abalone, reported SAPS.
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