MYSTERY surrounds the man who, for the past week, has made a habit of swimming to the green and yellow channel markers in the Richards Bay harbour, standing on them and reportedly saluting passing vessels.
Sunday a week ago was the first time he made an appearance, and was quickly apprehended by Transnet security.
Last Wednesday he was at it again, and was again picked up from one of the green channel markers off Naval Island.
At that stage, not saying a word of who he is or why he is so keen on proving his swimming ability, the man left all who saw him wondering what had possessed him to swim these waters.
On Saturday he returned once more, and after he was removed from the yellow buoy in the vicinity of T Jetty, reportedly told police that he wanted to demonstrate to the fishermen that he could handle himself in the water as he wanted a job as crew member on a fishing vessel.
Police officers said he ‘swims like a fish’.
SAPS Waterwing transported the man to the eNseleni clinic, but he was discharged shortly after and again made his way to one of the buoys on Sunday, after which he was removed by the NSRI and taken to Ngwelezana Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
There are rumours that the man last week threatened kite surfers at knifepoint, but there is no proof of these allegations.
At this stage, there is nothing for which the man can be officially charged by police.
The waters in the harbour are not demarcated swimming areas and the currents are very strong.
Members of the public are encouraged to swim only in the officially demarcated area at Alkantstrand.
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