Posted by on June 29, 2004 at 10:41:29:
South African Police stoned as they confiscate perlemoen (abalone)
June 29, 2004, 15:24
Western Cape police in the Gansbaai area this morning were stoned and had a suspected Molotov cocktail thrown at them when they confiscated 8878 shucked and 18 whole perlemoen.
Nina Kirsten, a police spokesperson, said in the early hours of today personnel from the Gansbaai police station noticed two bakkies parked on an open plot. Their suspicions aroused, they investigated and stumbled upon a number of bags containing perlemoen. While they were loading the confiscated perlemoen onto a police vehicle, stones and a possible petrol bomb were thrown at them.
Reinforcements were requested and police arriving on the scene fired rubber bullets. "Two police vehicles were slightly damaged during the incident but no injuries were sustained," said Kirsten. She said besides confiscating the perlemoen, police also took possession of a scale and a Toyota Hilux bakkie.
No arrests have been made as yet. Two cases, one of possession of perlemoen and another of public violence, are being investigated. - Sapa
Public violence case opened after police attack
June 29, 2004, 17:42
Police have opened a case of public violence after several police members were attacked while confiscating illegally caught perlemoen in Gansbaai on the Southern Cape coast.
Nina Kirsten, a police spokesperson, says the officers were busy seizing almost 9 000 perlemoen worth hundreds of thousands of rands when the attack occurred.
Whilst they were loading the confiscated abalone in the police vehicles, stones and a possible petrol bomb were thrown at the police members. On request members of Operation Neptune came to their assistance and fired a number of rubber bullets in the direction of the perpetrators, who fled the scene.
Two police vehicles were slightly damaged during the incident but no injuries were sustained. No arrests have been made as yet.