After calm had been restored in Hout Bay late on Sunday afternoon after a day of mayhem, about 150 protesters have resorted to burning tyres in Atlantic Skipper Street and Harbour Road this afternoon.
Metro police and law enforcement are on the scene, the City of Cape Town said on Monday. Three people were arrested during the violent protests and torching of buildings.
The alleged poachers who were with fisherman Durick van Blerk, the man whose disappearance is believed to have sparked the violent Hout Bay protests, have joined the official search for him. Some believed he was shot by on-duty police officers and fell overboard. He has been missing since Friday night.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), the violent protests may have been sparked by a misunderstanding regarding the anti-poaching operation. DAFF buildings were set alight in the protests.
"None of the DAFF officials assisted, but they were on standby. The special task force arrested two suspects at sea and one suspected poacher jumped overboard and is still missing," DAFF spokesperson Khaye Nkwanyana said.
A fishing boat with crayfish and fishing nets were seized during the operation.
"The suspected poachers presumed that one of our officials, Bernie Smal, had been instrumental in the operation."
Police said Smal and his family were taken to a place of safety. "The police will continue to maintain public order in the area and we have organised private security to guard Mr Smal’s residence and our property in the harbour."
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Andre Traut said a missing-person docket was opened by Van Blerk’s family when he failed to return home on Saturday.