Stiff terms will send clear message
The guilty plea by perlemoen poaching kingpin Morne Blignaut on Monday is not just a success story for local law enforcement, but goes to show that the public can have a significant role to play in seeing those illegally exploiting our marine reserves brought to book. Had farmer Johannes Erasmus not acted on his suspicions when two of Blignaut’s men first approached him to hire land some five years ago, it is not inconceivable that the largest perlemoen drying facility in the Eastern Cape would just have quietly carried on operating.
Blignaut was one of six people arrested and charged with a string of offences after their operation on the farm just outside Port Elizabeth was intercepted by police. He had initially pleaded not guilty, but changed his mind on Monday when it became clear the state had overwhelming evidence against him.
As we reported on Tuesday, much of that evidence is thanks to Erasmus, who not only alerted police when he smelt a rat, but allowed them to set up surveillance on his farm so Blignaut and company could be watched.
This police operation, and the stellar work done by Warrant Officer Leon Eksteen, was responsible for the undoing of the ring and ultimately led to nine arrests.
It is no small achievement for not only is perlemoen poaching notoriously difficult to combat, but successful prosecutions are few and far between.
Many residents of coastal communities, including those in and around the Bay, are afraid of the poachers, who are usually armed and have links to larger crime syndicates. It is easier, and safer, to turn a blind eye and not interfere with their activities.
Suspicion that the poachers are in collusion with some police officers does not help matters and yet, despite all the risks, Erasmus stuck his neck out.
With judgment in the case due on Wednesday, and Blignaut’s co-accused to be sentenced on September 20, we hope stiff sentences will be meted out.
Perhaps only lengthy jail time will send a sufficiently clear message that the plundering of our natural resources will not be tolerated.