Wild Coast recreational anglers and holidaymakers were released yesterday after being trapped at the weekend at the Cwebe nature reserve camp and The Haven Hotel.
Protesting land claimants from local villages had dug up the access road. The anglers, some from East London, yesterday said they had been stopped from leaving since Sunday by angry villagers who have land claim issues with the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA), Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) and a local hotel owner.
Holidaymakers from both Cwebe camp and the hotel said they were only freed by police at 3pm yesterday. They were heading back home by 4pm.
Angler Gerald Weber said yesterday afternoon: “We are a group of about 10 anglers from East London.
“We were supposed to have gone home on Sunday.
“Now the time is already past and we are still here. We are being held hostage. We understand that the protesters have nothing against us, but they were sending a message to officials. But in the process we are victims.”
He said police promised them they would be released by 7am yesterday.
Gary Mclean, also an angler, said they arrived at Cwebe on Sunday morning and were due to return home the same day.
“Police are just arriving and it looks like we are going to be freed,” Mclean said.
Community leader and protester Mthobeli “Jomo” Khuselo said 20 police officers arrived from Kwaaiman and Elliotdale stations in an Avanza and two double cabs at 3.30pm.
“The police from Kwaaiman were so rude. They wanted to shoot and kill us. They broke all the padlocks, removed the barricades and cut off the chains and wires at the gates and freed the people who were inside.
“We want him out of the property within three days. His lease expired on June 30,” he said.
Khuselo confirmed they had dug a trench in front of one of the hotels.
The Haven Hotel manager Michael Gunther said four vehicles at the cottages at Cwebe were to be freed by police. Gunther said the closure had had affected business badly and some at the cottages in Cwebe feared for their lives.
“But we managed to release all of our guests early this morning from another gate which was at that point was not blocked by the mob of people.
“We were promised by the station commander that the police, including those from public order police (POP), would be here as early as 7am, but until now they are still not here,” Gunther said.
Elliotdale police station commander Captain Mfundo Mbena said the delay was caused by a lack of vehicles. He added that POP members were on their way.
The protesters said they were targeting the ECPTA and land affairs.
“This matter is over a land claim. The hotel is operating on land under claim and those who run it know that,” Khuselo said.
He said the reason they closed the gates was that they wanted to see a new Communal Property Association (CPA) committee elected but this wish had been ignore by officials.
ECPTA spokeswoman Nopasika Mxunyelwa said the term of office of the Dwesa Cwebe CPA had expired and the DRDLR had established an interim CPA.
“Community members were not happy with this arrangement and, as a result, they marched to the Cwebe gate, blocking access to incoming and outgoing visitors.
“Currently, the Cwebe side of the reserve remains closed until the scheduled meeting between DRDLR and the communities.
“The meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday.”
Mabena said that the anglers were freed, no case was opened and nobody was arrested.
“We got assistance from public order policing and from Kwaaiman. I am personally here at The Haven Hotel,” said Mabena. — lulamilef@dispatch.coza
Holidaymakers and anglers in Cwebe hostage drama
Protesting land claimants from local villages had dug up the access road. The anglers, some from East London, yesterday said they had been stopped from leaving since Sunday by angry villagers who have land claim issues with the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA), Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) and a local hotel owner.
Holidaymakers from both Cwebe camp and the hotel said they were only freed by police at 3pm yesterday. They were heading back home by 4pm.
Angler Gerald Weber said yesterday afternoon: “We are a group of about 10 anglers from East London.
“We were supposed to have gone home on Sunday.
“Now the time is already past and we are still here. We are being held hostage. We understand that the protesters have nothing against us, but they were sending a message to officials. But in the process we are victims.”
He said police promised them they would be released by 7am yesterday.
Gary Mclean, also an angler, said they arrived at Cwebe on Sunday morning and were due to return home the same day.
“Police are just arriving and it looks like we are going to be freed,” Mclean said.
Community leader and protester Mthobeli “Jomo” Khuselo said 20 police officers arrived from Kwaaiman and Elliotdale stations in an Avanza and two double cabs at 3.30pm.
“The police from Kwaaiman were so rude. They wanted to shoot and kill us. They broke all the padlocks, removed the barricades and cut off the chains and wires at the gates and freed the people who were inside.
“We want him out of the property within three days. His lease expired on June 30,” he said.
Khuselo confirmed they had dug a trench in front of one of the hotels.
The Haven Hotel manager Michael Gunther said four vehicles at the cottages at Cwebe were to be freed by police. Gunther said the closure had had affected business badly and some at the cottages in Cwebe feared for their lives.
“But we managed to release all of our guests early this morning from another gate which was at that point was not blocked by the mob of people.
“We were promised by the station commander that the police, including those from public order police (POP), would be here as early as 7am, but until now they are still not here,” Gunther said.
Elliotdale police station commander Captain Mfundo Mbena said the delay was caused by a lack of vehicles. He added that POP members were on their way.
The protesters said they were targeting the ECPTA and land affairs.
“This matter is over a land claim. The hotel is operating on land under claim and those who run it know that,” Khuselo said.
He said the reason they closed the gates was that they wanted to see a new Communal Property Association (CPA) committee elected but this wish had been ignore by officials.
ECPTA spokeswoman Nopasika Mxunyelwa said the term of office of the Dwesa Cwebe CPA had expired and the DRDLR had established an interim CPA.
“Community members were not happy with this arrangement and, as a result, they marched to the Cwebe gate, blocking access to incoming and outgoing visitors.
“Currently, the Cwebe side of the reserve remains closed until the scheduled meeting between DRDLR and the communities.
“The meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday.”
Mabena said that the anglers were freed, no case was opened and nobody was arrested.
“We got assistance from public order policing and from Kwaaiman. I am personally here at The Haven Hotel,” said Mabena. — lulamilef@dispatch.coza
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos