A 63-year-old Gordon’s Bay resident is suffering flashbacks and sleepless nights after sustaining slight injuries in a collision during a high-speed chase on Friday 11 July.
Mogamat Salie Gasnodien was heading to work when a speeding Mercedes-Benz, which was being pursued by armed response officers, rammed into his Daihatsu hatchback on Faure Marine Drive at 06:40.
The two occupants of the Mercedes-Benz hatchback, suspected abalone smugglers, were apprehended following the collission (“Two suspects nabbed in Gordon’s Bay chase, abalone seized“, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 11 July).
Provincial police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk says armed security officers of Gordon’s Bay Security (GBSec) were pursing the Mercedes-Benz in the direction of Strand when the latter collided
ded with Gasnodien’s stationary vehicle.
He confirms two suspects, aged 24 and 14, abandoned the car and fled the scene, with police officers joining in on the pursuit. The two were eventually netted and arrested for abalone possession.
Gasnodien, a Strand municipal clerk, says he left home earlier that morning to attend to work matters.
He recalls the roads being quiet as he turned onto Faure Marine Drive from Lemoenboom Road, and his vehicle was struck – contrary to the police comment stating that his vehicle as stationary.
“I would never have imaged that I would be involved in an incident like this,”
says Gasnodien, who lost control of the vehicle that was bumped onto the central median.
“The vehicle grazed a pole and knocked a tree, before landing on the opposite side of the road.”
He recalls a GBSec officer helping him from his wrecked vehicle to the pavement.
The collision left Gasnodien disoriented.
“I turned to the officer and asked: ‘Did someone bump into me?’”
says Gasnodien
Emergency personnel transported Gasnodien to a local hospital for treatment of whiplash, severely bruised ribs and a bruised knee. He was discharged around 11:00 the same day.
Gasnodien’s wife, Bashma, raced to the scene after hearing of the incident from the couple’s daughter.
“I was devastated, but knew I had to stay focused. I can’t thank God enough for this [situation], because it could have been 10 times worse.”
Bashma Gasnodien
The ordeal has traumatised the Gasnodiens, who recently lost a family matriarch.
“After seeing the accident photos, I am haunted by flashbacks of the near-dear experience,” Gasnodien shares.
He, however, notes that he was oblivious to the collision being the result of a high-speed chase. “As I was seated on the pavement, I saw two guys with their hands cable-tied, being led away by authorities. But I still didn’t know what was going on.”
Van Wyk confirms the two suspects appeared in the Strand Magistrates’ Court on Monday (14 July) on charges of abalone possession.
Thobile Zulu-Molobi, spokesperson for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), confirms 525 units of abalone, weighing 71,3 kg were confiscated.
“The total value of the abalone is estimated at R130 716,43,”
Thobile Zulu-Molobi
Zulu-Molobi points out that arrests and confiscation of illegally transported abalone are common in the Helderberg.
“The confiscated abalone is likely to originate from the Overberg region and is then transported to the Helderberg area,” she says.
Zulu-Molobi confirms the confiscated abalone will be disposed of in accordance with the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998 and DFFE departmental policy.
She adds that abalone poaching has a severe and far-reaching effect on South African coastal waters, as abalone plays a critical ecological role.
“Abalone poaching could result in the collapse of abalone stocks, habitat degradation, a decline of natural predators and biodiversity, and ecological changes.”
DFFE urges the public to report illegal activities to the department on 0800 205 005.
When reporting, residents must provide full details of the complaint, including location, dates, times, names of involved parties and any additional information.
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