ALL Motlake Motsepe wants is to fish in peace and make money to feed his family.
But he is always denied access to the Roodeplaat dam and a privately-owned dam in Tshwane.
The 53-year-old from Winterveld, who is living with a disability, alleged that a woman at the privately-owned dam gate, who spoke Afrikaans, asked how he, as a black person, managed to obtain a fishing permit.
He said he tried to report the matter to the police on several occasions and even provided his fishing permit for both dams as evidence, but he is still battling to fish.
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"My efforts have been unsuccessful and the woman at the dam gate told me she owns the dam and the fish. I felt this is pure racism because I saw a white person fish at the dam. I wish they would at least allow me to fish," said Motlake.
He said fishing is his only source of income, adding that he started fishing at primary school using a hook and later realised that he could turn it into a business.
"I now use a fishing net, which allows me to generate an income. I have people who sell on my behalf. I used to fish at Moretele River before I obtained my permits in December 2022. I'm afraid the permits will expire because I'm sent from pillar to post whenever I want to fish," he said.
Mohlake said he is also training 10 young people who relied on the R350 grant to make money for themselves through fishing.
"I want them to generate an income by fishing without waiting for the Sassa grant," he said.
City of Tshwane spokesman Lindela Mashigo said the municipality has no authority over both dams.
"The Roodeplaat Dam falls within the jurisdiction of the provincial government, while the other dam is privately owned. Therefore, the city cannot comment on their behalf," said Mashigo.
On Friday, 14 April, Daily Sun sent an inquiry to the spokesman of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Albi Modise, but he did not respond.
Daily Sun sent a follow-up inquiry to Modise on Monday morning, 17 April, who replied with an apology and assured the SunTeam he would follow up with his team.
Later that evening, Merle Van Diemel from the department messaged Daily Sun, stating that she would coordinate an inquiry on behalf of Modise.
However, on Tuesday, 18 April she referred the SunTeam back to Modise, but he had not responded by the time the story was published.
