New Year chaos at city holiday resorts

LOCKED: Residents, looking for respite from the New Year day’s soaring temperatures, were met with locked gates at Karen Muir.

Picture: Danie van der Lith OVERCROWDING, caused by party-goers who gained illegal access to New Year’s celebrations at holiday resorts outside Kimberley, has proven to be one of the few blemishes on an otherwise peaceful holiday weekend in the Province.

This is according to Sol Plaatje municipal spokesperson, Sello Matsie, who said yesterday that the New Year event at Langleg had spiralled beyond the control of security officials after portions of the perimeter fencing was destroyed by revellers.

Matsie said that while no drownings had been reported from Langleg, nor Riverton, these New Year’s festivities had not been without incident after attendees cut through the fences in order to gain illegal access to the celebrations.

“This year’s festivities were really hectic, especially at Langleg where things became uncontrollable for security,” he said late yesterday afternoon.

“Langleg can accommodate about 9 000 visitors and Riverton, 2 500. Both venues were filled to capacity and the problems started when members of the public cut holes in the fence at Langleg.”

Apart from resulting in a loss of revenue from the event, Matsie said that the fact that many had gained unauthorised access to the venue further resulted in overcrowding which contributed to sporadic incidents of violence.

“There were some fights that broke out while as well as a stabbing that took place. One woman even gave birth at the event.

“Riverton was not quite as bad and we were fortunate not to have any major issues but things certainly could have gone better.”

Meanwhile, residents, looking for respite from the New Year day’s soaring temperatures, were met with locked gates at the city’s municipal pools – leaving many hot under the collar.

Residents who flocked to the local facilities have demanded answers from the Sol Plaatje Municipality about why the facilities were shut.

“We don’t have pools at home and there isn’t money to go away on holiday for the festive season,” remarked Greenpoint resident, Rebecca Scheepers.

“Being able to spend our free time at the pool is one of the few fun activities we can afford and we look forward to enjoying a day at the pool all year.”

“Any other time would have been more convenient for the pools to be closed, but for the place to be locked up now, with no indication of when or if the pool will reopen, makes absolutely no sense.”

Many who arrived at Karen Muir to find the venue closed opted to socialise instead in Queenspark with the adjacent facility jampacked with revellers enjoying the first day of 2018.

However, others left disappointed, having found no relief from the very hot weather conditions.

A high school pupil from Greenpoint pointed out that the municipal officials knew that locals don’t have any other options available to them.

“The municipality just doesn’t care about us. We are left to suffer in silence and there is nothing we can do about it.

“Our only option is to find a shady spot under a tree in the park, but this is Kimberley in mid-summer. Nothing is going to cool us off.”

Matsie said that the pool had been open for the entire weekend, with the exception of Monday.

“Last week, we had some issues that meant we needed to temporarily close Karen Muir, but the pool was reopened before the weekend,” he said. “It was closed on Monday as we have learnt from previous years that most members of the public would rather make their way to the resorts.

“The facility was open today (Tuesday),” he added.

Assistant Chief of Emergency Services for the Sol Plaatje Municipality, Riaan Janse van Vuuren, said it was a quiet weekend in the area with no major incidents reported in Kimberley.