Protesters go on violent rampage in Hout Bay

PROTESTING residents of Hangberg opened fire on a police helicopter and attacked tourists‚ boats and restaurants at Hout Bay harbour yesterday‚ sparking running battles with riot police.

A young boy was shot in the mouth when riot police tried to disperse the group of about 200.

Panicked foreign tourists took refuge inside a waterfront restaurant and about 150 were led to safety along the beach while a group of protesters looted boats in Hout Bay marina.

Protesters attempted to set fire to the surrounding mountainside using flares stolen from marina boats‚ and police claimed flares were fired at a helicopter which was monitoring the unrest.

Fishermen armed with petrol bombs and rocks said they were angry about a reduction in the rock lobster quota by 60kg from 110kg to 50kg for the six-month fishing season.

“How can we live with 50kg? That’s probably R9 000 for six months‚ and the next six months? How are we going to survive?” one asked.

Crayfisherman Alexander Plaatjies said they were upset that fishing companies with trawlers were allocated large quotas.

Yesterday’s incidents‚ which followed a related incident on Monday inside the Cape Town head office of the Department of Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries‚ began when protesters barricaded the road leading to the harbour with burning bins.

A breakaway group attempted to rob two tourists outside their buses‚ and another group entered the harbour and attacked Mariner’s Wharf restaurant‚ stoning windows and stealing outside furniture, which was dumped on the fire.

Police then advanced in front of a water cannon‚ firing rubber bullets and throwing stun grenades.

Fifteen metres behind the barricade a wooden table lay tilted at an angle. Three people – the boy and two women – crouched beneath it.

A policeman fired at least three times at them from less than two metres away. People screamed at the officer to stop. The boy staggered to the pavement and fell to his knees‚ spitting mouthfuls of blood.

Onlookers went to the boy’s aid before a police officer drove him away and he was taken to hospital.

City of Cape Town mayoral committee member JP Smith said two council staff were injured‚ with one hospitalised.