Cape Flats fishermen tired of crime are setting up a crime watch group to keep them safe on the beach.
False Bay anglers, who have increasingly been arming themselves before heading out for a day of fishing, were in the process of setting up a neighbourhood watch to patrol hotspots from Mnandi to Strandfontein.
Iershaad Ameerodien of the Cape Town Rock and Surf fishing forum, said: “We understand police don’t always have the manpower so our volunteers will patrol on Fridays and Saturdays for now.”
“We’ll have workshops to educate the guys on what their rights are and set up rosters and have the guys wearing high visibility vests which we hope to get sponsored,” he told the Cape Argus.
Ameerodien said there had been several muggings and robberies recently, but they didn’t have any official statistics because people often didn’t open cases with cops.
“There have also been a few cases in the Strand, including an attempted hijacking,” he said.
In June 2014, fisherman Alvin Allies of Northpine was shot dead by robbers while fishing off Strandfontein beach.
Ameerodien encouraged anglers to rather fish in groups. “The days of secret spots are over,” he joked.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut said the Strandfontein SAPS were aware of the concerns of anglers fishing along False Bay, and measures to increase policing of the area had been implemented.