Ndlambe set for season
Contingency plans in place for beaches, nature reserves, towns
Ndlambe Municipality’s directorates have shared their contingency plans for the 2023/24 festive season.
The detailed document was included in the agenda of the council’s final meeting for the year, on December 8. We give you the essentials here:
Beaches
Three of Ndlambe’s beaches were awarded Blue Flag status for the 2023/24 season, starting on December 1 2023. They are:
Kelly’s Beach (for the 19th consecutive year);
Kariega Main Beach (15th year running);
Middle Beach, Kenton-onSea (second season).
The plan can be confirmed only once the hiring of lifeguards and casual staff is complete.
The interim plan for the Blue Flag beaches is to have:
Lifeguards seven days a week, from 8.30am to 5.30pm during the Blue Flag season, from December 1 2023 to April 30 2024.
These times may sometimes be extended, depending on circumstances;
Regular patrols of the area by SAPS and security officers;
Water sampling as stipulated by Blue Flag requirements;
Facilities cleaned regularly throughout the day;
Crews will arrive very early,
daily, to clean up before most beachgoers arrive;
Additional casual workers assisting with cleaning from December 15 to January 3.
At the less frequented beaches, lifeguarding services will be subject to availability.
At Boknes, Kleinemonde, East Beach, Bushmans River beach and slipway, Fish River Beach and River Mouth, there may be between two and four lifeguards on duty from 8.30am to 5.30pm, December 15 to January 15 (subject to availability).
Casual cleanup teams will be on duty from December 15 to January 7.
There are no lifeguarding services planned for Port
Alfred’s West Beach, where swimming is not permitted, nor Cannon Rocks.
Nature reserves
Three reserves are under the management of Ndlambe Municipality: Kap River Nature Reserve; Roundhill Oribi Nature Reserve and Great Fish River Mouth Wetland Nature Reserve.
At the Kap and Roundhill reserves, from December 1 to January 7, activities will include routine fence patrols, antipoaching patrols, water management and general maintenance.
At the Fish River Mouth reserve, from December 15 to January 7, refuse will be removed.
The report notes that the camp site is closed and that camping is at campers’ own risk.
Cleaning and sanitation
Portaloos will be hired and placed at key sites in Kleinemonde, Fish River Mouth campsite, Kariega Main Beach and Kenton Middle Beach and the Bushmans River Mouth picnic site.
In Port Alfred, portaloos will be placed at Ntakazilali, the library grounds, Kiddies Beach, the braai area behind Guido’s, West beach car park, Sandwana, Halfway Beach, Kelly’s Beach and Shelly Beach.
Cleanup teams will work at the busiest beaches in two shifts: 5am to 2pm and midday to 8pm.
Additional casuals will be employed from New Year’s Eve to January 3.
Extra rubbish bins will be placed at strategic points.
Traffic management: Kentonon-Sea
During peak periods, namely December 15-17 and December 22 to January 3, an access control boom gate will be in operation at the intersection of Eastbourne Road and Vasco da Gama Drive.
Vehicles will be allowed to enter until all the designated parking bays are full.
After that, they will be redirected to other parts of Kenton-on-Sea.
According to the community protection services plan, vehicles obstructing private driveways will be towed away.
“A zero tolerance approach will be enforced for drinking and driving, public drinking, reckless and negligent driving and disorderly behaviour,” the plan states.
Traffic management: Port Alfred
On January 1, the following one-way traffic limitations will be put in place, together with access control points:
One-way traffic from the intersection of Muller Street and West Beach Road in an easterly direction to West Beach car park, along Beach Road past the braai areas to the intersection of Wesley Hill and Beach Road.
One-way traffic from the intersection of Oriole Road/ Beach Road in a westerly direction (away from the river) to the intersection of Grand Street/Wesley Hill Drive/Muller Street.
One-way traffic from the intersection of Beach Road/ Hirtzel Road in a westerly direction along Grand Street to the intersection of Grand Street/ Wesley Hill Drive/Muller Street.
One-way traffic from the intersection of Wesley Hill/ Smith Street in a northeasterly direction to the intersection of Beach Road/ Smith Street.
Note: Muller Drive and Wesley Hill Drive will remain two-way roads.
Other facets of Ndlambe’s holiday season contingency plan include fire readiness, security and bylaw compliance.
Along with beach patrols to make sure dog owners are complying with bylaws, Ndlambe’s community protection services will also be conducting education campaigns for dog owners, so they understand their responsibilities.
A joint operation centre (JOC) will be in operation during the season.
Water provision
The infrastructure directorate has outlined its plan for bulk water supply for each town in the area, along with roads and street lights.
Municipal festive season finance office hours
Port Alfred, Kenton-on-Sea and Alexandria Payments:
Monday to Thursday 8am to 1pm; 1,45pm to 3.30pm.
Fridays 8am to 1pm; 1,45pm top 2.30pm.
December 22 and December 29: Offices close at 1pm.
For payment of accounts, the cashier closes at midday on December 14.
During public holidays and weekends, the offices will be closed for payments.
The alternative pay points may be used: Pick n Pay; Post Office; ATMs or PEP Stores.
Prepaid electricity can be bought at:
● Pick n Pay
● Thornhill vendor
● Wentzel Park vendor
● Online
Boat licences — Kenton-onSea and Port Alfred finance offices:
DECEMBER
● Friday 15: 8am-12pm
● Saturday 16: 8am-1pm
● Mon 18-Thurs 21: 7.30am3.30pm
● Friday 22: 7.30am-12pm
● Saturday 23: 8am-1pm
● Tuesday 26: 8am-12pm
● Wed 27-Thurs 28: 7.30am3.30pm
● Friday 29: 7.30am-12pm
● Saturday 30: 8am-1pm
JANUARY
● Tues 2-Thurs 4: 7.30am3,30pm
● Friday 5: 7.30am-2.30pm
● Saturday 6: 8am-1pm
● Mon 8-Thurs 11: 7.30am3.30pm
● Friday 12: 7.30am-2.30p