Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) officials did not arrive at a scheduled meeting with the Hangberg community this morning.
A group of fishers and other stakeholders gathered outside the hall in anticipation of the meeting, but were told that DAFF representatives were not available.
Protesters agreed to suspend the protest on Wednesday on the proviso that representatives would address the community today.
“There are about 200 people gathered here who have just been told that the representatives will not be coming,” said community spokesperson Lee Smith.
“They are just finding out now. We actually told them yesterday that they should say when they wanted to meet, because the community would agree to that. It was them who said tomorrow. Now people are here and they’re not coming.”
Ward councillor Roberto Quintas had also been informed by police that the DAFF officials would no longer be meeting with the community.”
Violent protests erupted in Hout Bay on Tuesday after fishers and residents took to the streets over fishing allocation rights as well as housing and service delivery issues.
A 14-year-old boy allegedly was shot in the mouth by a rubber bullet as police confronted protesters in Harbour Road.
