Nature's 'revenge' on poachers

Two suspected poachers ran into the wrath of Mother Nature as they fled a marine patrol in the Gansbaai area near Hermanus.

Gansbaai residents believe either snakebites or scorpion stings caused the men's death.

Apparently, Siyabanga Nethi, 20, and Bongani Masabela, 27, were poaching perlemoen (abalone) on Friday when the fled from a marine patrol.

Police superintendent Billy Jones said Nethi died at his home in Masakhane, Gansbaai, on Friday.

Masabela's body was found on Sunday in the dunes off Pearly Beach.

Jones said it was believed Nethi and an unknown friend had hidden among the bushes near Pearly Beach to avoid a marine patrol.

"Apparently, Nethi complained of a burning pain in his back. Later on, the two went to Gansbaai where Nethi died shortly afterwards."

Masabela apparently was poaching perlemoen, too, but managed to escape by himself. His body was discovered at 14:00 on Sunday, said Jones.

Found in the dunes
He said Masabela was trying to evade the marine patrol, too, but got separated from the other two. When he didn't show up in Gansbaai, he was reported missing on Saturday.

The next day, Masabela's family reported to police that his body had been found in the dunes off Pearly Beach.

Jones said a post-mortem has been done to establish the cause of death. According to him, the findings would be released only for court procedures.

An inquest into the cause of death is to follow.

Source: www.news24.com