GANSBAAI perlemoen poachers say despite their fear after the death of a friend in the jaws of a great white shark, they will continue to dive and poach perlemoen because they have no choice.
Although the self-confessed poachers have momentarily halted their illegal activities, they have not ruled out returning to sea.
"I'm thinking of selling vegetables now but in the long run I know I have to go back to the sea. I have to force myself because I have a family who I have to look after," said a 36-year-old poacher who calls himself Zulu.
Zulu was part of a group of eight poachers who witnessed the shark attack on Nkosinathi Mayaba at Dyer Island last Wednesday.
While police Casspirs parked along the Kleinbaai coastline and policemen patrolled, Zulu shared his views on poaching at his home in Masakhane this week.
He explained that the high unemployment rate in the town, discrepancies in the allocation of fishing permits and their responsibility to support their families forced them to return to the shark-infested stretch known as "Shark Alley".
"The only jobs here are in construction and you only work one or two days. This is not enough to feed my family, which is why I have to look for other means of earning an income," said Zulu.
Saider, another poacher, said, "We have spent close to R1 500 on permits to dive, but we have been denied permission. The only people who get permits are those who are experienced and have established professional fishing businesses."
He said wealthier fishermen often included them in their permit proposals but neglected their needs once their permits were approved.
"I know I don't belong in the sea and when I'm there I know I'm between life and death.
"It is obvious we will encounter sharks because this is where the (shark operating) boats travel. We do get scared because we all know there are sharks there but nobody wants to talk about it."
Mayaba's aunt Nontlahla Masingane said she had warned her nephew about the dangers of poaching but that he said he was forced to dive because he needed to support her - because she was not working - and his mother in the Eastern Cape.
"He was starting to change. He even came to visit us often lately."
Gansbaai ward councillor
Dr Anelie Rabie says the shark attack won't reduce poaching.
"There are not many poachers who will stop. Poaching is a big problem in Gansbaai. A large percentage of the unemployed community turn to poaching as a means of income."
She acknowledged that unfair allocation of perlemoen permits caused an increase in poaching but added that the Overstrand Municipality was holding talks to address the problem and generate employment.
Shark tour operator Jean-Pierre Botha said the community was more concerned about poaching than about shark attacks.
"We are venturing into the sharks' territory ... but poaching is a crime. I understand that they (poachers) need money but it does not make it right."
Gansbaai
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