Twelve suspects are due to appear in the Simon’s Town Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 11 June 2026, following their arrest in connection with attempted abalone poaching in the Cape Point section of the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).

The arrests were made on Tuesday during an intelligence-driven enforcement operation conducted by South African National Parks (SANParks) in collaboration with its Environmental Crime Investigation (ECI) unit.

SANParks spokesperson JP Louw says the operation formed part of follow-up actions linked to an ongoing investigation into illegal marine resource exploitation.

“During the operation, two suspicious vehicles were intercepted and searched.”

Louw says the arrests prevented a coordinated poaching attempt inside a protected area.

“A significant quantity of diving equipment was discovered, indicating preparations for illegal abalone harvesting within the protected area. This operation is regarded as a major success, effectively preventing a coordinated group from entering a national park to carry out illegal poaching activities. The arrests highlight ongoing efforts by law enforcement authorities to combat environmental crime and protect South Africa’s marine resources.”