Violence erupts in Hawston injuring two

Imogen Vollenhoven

04 November 2012

A police officer was injured and a K9 Unit building set alight by a

violent crowd in Hawston, Western Cape police said this morning.

 Late yesterday afternoon the car two suspected abalone poachers were driving overturned and landed in a ditch while police were chasing them, Captain Frederick van Wyk said.

Members of the public saw what happened and started to throw stones and petrol bombs at the police.

There were also shots fired from the community side at the police members, Van Wyk said.

Several private vehicles, including one owned by the injured police officer, were set alight.A 13-year-old boy was shot in both legs.

Van Wyk said it was not known how he was wounded.

 Residents burned tyres and placed rocks on the R43, forcing the closure of the road.

The police opened cases of arson, public violence and malicious damage to property.

The two men were found with 55 abalone and 12 crayfish with a street value of about R2000. Both were arrested and charged with possession of abalone and crayfish.