Military veterans to make beaches safer
Public Works funded new initiative with R2.4m
BEACHGOERS in Buffalo City Metro can relax a bit more this festive season thanks to the addition of military veterans tasked with guarding key areas of the coast.
The Coastal Protection Services Programme is funded by the national Department of Public Works, which injected R2.46-million into the initiative.
The project will see 53 military veterans guard against “illegal activities” from Kiwane (near Tyolomnqa) to Kwelera.
The veterans started on December 1 and will work on the programme until May 2017. They will conduct patrols, check for valid fishing permits and guard against poachers. It is also hoped their visibility will reduce crime.
The programme was officially approved by the BCM council last week.
Mayoral committee member Helen Neale-May said it formed part of the department’s Expanded Public Works Programme and the veterans would guard against various “illegal activities”.
“The aim is to provide environment protection, security to individuals or tourists and communities as well as keep our beaches clean in the area of BCM.
“The national Department of Public Works has committed to finance the project over the Medium Term Revenue and Expenditure should this phase be successful,” said NealeMay.
Veteran and programme coordinator Mncekeleli Miseli of the ANC’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) military wing said they were working with the department of agriculture, forest and fisheries and police.
“We are looking at environmental compliance; that is our main objective. We are looking for valid fishing permits whether it is for rod or boat fishing.
“The permits must be valid and fishers must not use other people’s permits,” said Miseli, adding that if a person was found to contravene the laws the department of fisheries would be alerted.
“Any person who is found to have contravened the law is fined, a case is opened in a police station. We are also looking for poachers as there are companies taking part in abalone poaching,” he said.
He said only 48 veterans had been deployed so far with the hope to deploy more from other military wings. Most of the current participants were members of MK or the Azanian People’s Liberation Army.
BCM said it also hoped the deployment of the veterans along crime-affected beaches and rivers would reduce crimes such as muggings, assaults and murder.
“This is a new programme and the veterans are enjoying the work because most of them were unemployed and they are now getting a reasonable living wage.”
Miseli said there was a demand for the unit as people were “not safe” on beaches.
“People who go to the Leaches Bay beach were not safe and now that we are visible they are happy,” he said. —