The Port Elizabeth High Court has given the SA Shore Angling Association permission to use vehicles during its national championship in East London next week after the government withdrew permission at the last minute.
The Port Elizabeth High Court has given the SA Shore Angling Association permission to use vehicles on the beach during its national championship in East London next week after the government withdrew permission at the last minute.
The association applied for an urgent interdict on Wednesday and was informed at midday on Friday that permission had been granted.
Vincent Taylor, vice-chairman of the association, told CARtoday.com the only matter that remained to be cleared up was the number of vehicles that would be allowed on the beach. “They have given us permission to use 40 vehicles, but we need 50 next week,” he said.
Taylor explained that according to the tag and release system, all the fish are immediately returned to the sea. “We need enough vehicles for the marshals who ride along the beach, returning the fish to the sea quickly,” he said.
The association said it had been given oral permission to be exempted from the 4×4 beach ban, but the Department of Marine and Coastal management withdrew its permission this week. No reasons were given for the decision.
The competition takes place from Monday to Friday along the Ciskei coast.
CARtoday.com reported on Thursday that Shaun Schneier, principal environment officer of the marine and coastal management branch of the Department of Environment and Tourism, believed permission had been withdrawn because the anglers had not followed all the necessary statutory requirements for exemption.
The anglers are also still waiting for judgment in their court battle to be exempted from the government’s blanket ban on 4×4 vehicles on beaches. The Port Elizabeth High Court reserved judgement on February 8.
