Business Day says that the community representatives are using the South Africa Constitution's protection of customary laws and traditions as its defence. The representatives appeared in the Elliotdale Magistrate's Court on charges of fishing in a marine protected area inside the reserve.
The three members have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Business Day report says the three were charged under the Marine Living Resources Act and the Transkei Decree (9 of 1992), which has not yet been repealed even though the Transkei no longer exists.
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