An official from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was left bruised and bleeding after brazen poachers attacked him when he tried to confiscate their stolen perly.
The suspects decided to fight back after noticing the officer was on his own.
Passersby came to his rescue and the suspects fled into the Kleinmond area.
The DAFF has confirmed that this has been the second official to be attacked in the space of one month.
But residents along the Overberg Coast say it comes as no surprise as officials aren’t armed and are vastly outnumbered by poachers.
“There are approximately five guys who have to patrol about 100km of coastline. How can they defend themselves against 50 to 70 poachers?” asks a resident from Gansbaai.
DAFF spokesperson Palesa Mokomele says they are now working with police to prevent similar incidents, and plans are also in the pipeline to arm officials patrolling the coast.
Mokomele says a DAFF official in Gansbaai was attacked in May when he tried to bust a suspect.
The official was stabbed in the face and rushed to hospital where he received treatment.
“A case of assault was opened,” says Mokomele.
According to Captain FC van Wyk no charges were laid in connection with the incident in Kleinmond.
“The case wasn’t reported,” he states.