Poachers shoot at cops in KZN
2010-08-07 22:53



Johannesburg - A group of 15 suspected poachers allegedly opened fire on four police officers on a farm in Camperdown near Durban on Saturday, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

The police officers were then mobbed by a group of about 400 community members who claimed that they were legally allowed to hunt on the farm.

"The policemen came under fire (on Saturday at 10:00 and shot back. One poacher was wounded and taken to hospital where he was under police supervision," said Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mdunge.

He said that two hunting dogs had also been shot dead in the exchange.

"About 400 community members mobbed the police officers... and held them in a hostage situation.

(The officers) called for police reinforcement and they were eventually released," he said.

He was not sure what animals the poachers were hunting.

"We are still waiting for a full report so we are not sure who the farm belongs to or how many arrests have been made."

He said that members of the mob would "certainly" be arrested and poachers would be charged with attempted murder among other charges.




- SAPA