River lovers should band together and take on the authorities

I JUST have to respond to the letter my brother, Dan de Wet, wrote to The Herald regarding his experience with the law (if that‘s what you can call it) (“Seems only law-abiding boat owners targeted”, May 30) and the response thereto, also in The Herald, from Allan Whitfield (“Trouble makers left well alone”, June 4).

As Dan did, I also saw the light of day for the first time at Amsterdamhoek, in 1950, he in 1948, and have seen all the detrimental changes to one of the most productive estuary systems in South Africa, from the building of the first bridge over the river mouth in about 1958, the next bridge in about 1974, to the ridiculous “residential development” midway up the tidal range, and so on. So I do qualify for an opinion on the matter!

Furthermore, due to nostalgia, I read The Herald, online, regularly.

In some of my readings, specifically on the Swartkops River, I have noticed many “newcomers” to the area espousing their points of view, substantiated by their “many years” of residing in the area.

For example, there is a Leon Kilian, who will remember me from our surfing days in Port Elizabeth. Even if I consider you a johnny-come-lately to the area, I commend you on your effort (“Coastal management has no effect on bait digging”, The Herald May 4).

However, if you were truly so concerned and as a local resident, why don‘t you organise group involvement, in some sort of movement, and include the assistance of the original residents of Amsterdamhoek, Bluewater Bay, Swartkops and Redhouse, many of whom still reside in Port Elizabeth, some of whom are influential citizens, and take the authorities head-on?

I was last in South Africa in December 2005 and spent quite a few days fishing my beloved Swartkops River, together with some Australian friends, who were on holiday with me.

On one outing, and just to prove a point, I bought tapeworm and bloodworm from the many sellers at the Rod Club and nature conservation entry road to Tiger Bay. I purposefully shouted out to the conservation officer, who was standing nearby, informing him of what I had just done, that I had just bought illegal bait and required his attention or intervention or action – whatever was appropriate – but he simply ignored me.

Can you imagine the outcome – an Australian citizen with the name of De Wet being possibly deported for transgressing the law. I know that scenario is laughable, but so is the situation in South Africa. What a bunch of bigots!

What happened to the theory of suction pumps only being used to gather mud prawns from the river banks?

This was instituted as a “scientific” answer to the uncontrolled digging up and turning over of the banks. It actually worked – in my opinion, at least.

Since when were the “locals” subsistence fishermen? Historically they never fished at all, in any form or fashion, let alone with bait, line, hook and sinker!

I do feel for the “locals”, in that the current regime has created a situation of sheer desperation to exist and an easy way out is to plunder the resource.

The opportunity to realise the potential of the sustainable utilisation of the river by servicing its patrons, exists.

However, do it in an orderly scientific, conservative and businesslike manner and all should be well.

Look at the long term viability of the system and its users and patrons, and forget about the short term appeasement of desperate souls, their situation so caused by the current regime.

In doing so, they could be included and a long term future thereby guaranteed for them.

I make the same comment in reference to the perlemoen saga.

The attitude of the provincial department of nature conservation towards the Swartkops River has always been that they had written it off as being dumped in the “too hard basket” many years ago. This knowledge was gained from many years of involvement with the department, some of them as an honorary officer.

Dan‘s experience is typical of how I view South Africa from a distance nowadays, with extreme frustration and dismay.

I suppose the typical reaction to my opinion would be that I have no say from the land I now call home.

That would be a standard cop-out and the refusal to face reality.

Stop pandering to a misleading leadership and save what you can of South Africa for all of those to follow, no matter what creed or colour – the plundering of that land is not the prerogative and right of the current regime.

Eddie de Wet, Australia