PE hails celebrations at beaches a huge success

HOT and balmy weather enticed hundreds of thousands of Nelson Mandela Bay residents and visitors to Port Elizabeth beaches to ring in the New Year on Sunday, the last big day of the summer season.

Described as a resounding success by officials and police, the smooth season and almost incidentNew Year’s Day were attributed to a major clampdown on alcohol consumption along the packed beachfront.

Only five children were separated from their families on Sunday – four of them reunited the same day – while there were also no drowning incidents in the Bay.

Sports, recreation, arts and culture political head Siyasanga Sijadu said all seven of the metro’s major events were also well attended.

“People are starting to recognise our city as the holiday destination.

“It seems they are by the city. very impressed

“We definitely had a successful summer season,” Sijadu said.

Sijadu said the launch of the summer season on December 16 attracted about 15 000 people.

The fifth Ebubeleni Music Festival was attended by more than 18 000 while the Countdown New Year celebrations at Hobie and Wells Estate beaches hosted more than 95 000 revellers.

Around 300 000 people flocked to the beach on New Year’s Day.

She said although the zero tolerance on alcohol policy put in place by mayor Athol Trollip was viewed as “drastic” by some, it had worked well.

“There were quite a few people who sneaked in alcohol at Wells Estates beach because they are not used to this rule, but we will get more people to monitor our beaches,” Sijadu said.

She said the rule was in place prior to this summer season but it had not been enforced.

Echoing Sijadu’s comments, metro police chief Yolande Faro said the New Year’s weekend was a great success, giving credit to joint efforts between all law enforcement authorities targeting drinking on the beachfront.

Thousands of rands in traffic fines were also issued over the weekend while several roaming roadblocks – mainly along the beachfront – were erected.

Faro said no drownings had been reported on the beachfront and fewer accidents and fights were noted.

The New Year’s long weekend was humid and scorchingly perfect in Durban – and hundreds of thousands of people took advantage of it on the city’s beaches.

One drowning – on New Year’s Day at the Mnini Beach‚ which is a non-swimming beach and wasn’t manned by lifeguards – was the only fatality reported.

According to figures provided by the municipality‚ 518 people were treated for various ailments‚ mostly bluebottle sings and cuts.

About 180 rescues were carried out.

Approximately 33 people were arrested for various offences at the beach‚ including harassment‚ public drinking and theft.

An estimated 306 430 tons of refuse was collected over the long weekend. — TMG Digital