'When foreign companies drill oil in our oceans, fish die'- Small-scale fishers demonstrate at Cape Town harbour to stop permits for oceanic oil and gas exploration.
About 100 small-scale fishers demonstrated along Marine Drive at the Paarden Eiland entrance to Cape Town harbour on Monday. Photo: Vincent Lali/GroundUp
They held placards that read: “Fisher’s rights are human rights” and “Oil and water do not mix”. Many passing motorists hooted in support of the demonstration. “When foreign companies drill oil in our oceans, fish die. The noise from drilling causes fish to disappear… We won’t allow the government and foreign companies to take over our oceans,” she said.
Wendy Pekeur, Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth Movement founder and coordinator, said, “As Minister of the Environment, [Barbara] Creecy should be the first person to say no to drilling in the oceans.”