Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Stones and rubber bullets fly on Cape peak

Police fired rubber bullets at about 100 stone-throwing people who were demonstrating against the auction of a mountain peak in Hout Bay on Wednesday morning.

Inspector Tanya Lesh said the protest started at 10am when the group gathered on top of the Sentinel mountain peak above Hout Bay.

"The group of about 100 people moved down the mountain to a nearby hotel and started throwing stones at the police," Lesh said. "The police retaliated by firing rubber bullets."

No injuries were reported and no arrests were made. Two privately owned cars were damaged during the incident.

The protesters had dispersed by Wednesday afternoon.

A recent report in the Sunday Times said the 321m-high Cape Town landmark in Hout Bay had come to the attention of a short list of celebrities and tycoons, including Oprah Winfrey, Sol Kerzner, Donald Trump Junior as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The new owners could, if they wished, be able to name the peak after themselves as "Sentinel" is not a registered trademark.

Auctioneers have reportedly turned down two offers, including one for R15-million, after buying the property for only R60 000 in 2005.

The protesters say the mountain belongs to the indigenous people of South Africa and cannot belong to a private owner.

The auction was cancelled after the protest. - Sapa

No comments: