For his last day in South Africa, Prince William went to the port of Kalk Bay, south of Cape Town, where he was to meet fishermen working with Abalobi, a company finalist for the Earthshot 2023 prize. Did not go as planned.
South Africa: angry fishermen
When visiting the port of Kalk Bay, the Duke of Cambridge had no idea that he would be involved in a conflict between local fishermen and the Abalobi company. For your information, this company provides valuable aid to fishing communities. In particular, it allows them to record their catches and ensure fair livelihoods, thanks to sustainable fishing. However, the latter did not appreciate the fact of having been kept aside in Prince William's visit program.
Seeing the prince approach, Duwayne Baulse, one of the protesters and a fisherman for 15 years, shouted angrily from his stall: “They are not based here (speaking of Abalobi) and do not buy our fish. People only come here when the weather is nice. We are here in the rain and the storms.” Nicholette De Mink for her part held up a sign which read “William, you have no sovereignty over our country” and shouted: “Go home“.
Fishermen treated “Like in North Korea!”
Clearly not intimidated by Prince William's visit, Duwayne Baulse compared the staging of the visit to what is done in North Korea. The fishermen's discontent was directed not at the prince himself, but at the lack of support and recognition for their daily work. They want people to come to the port more often, not just for organized events.
Despite these tensions, the eldest son of Charles III was able to interact with some local fishermen and discover Abalobi's work in favor of sustainable fishing. But this visit will also have highlighted the difficulties encountered by fishing communities and their feeling of being left behind. A little hiccup to conclude this solo trip to South Africa, also rich in meetings and commitments for the environment.
