Zero tolerance pays off as 300 000 flock to beaches in metro
HOT and balmy weather drew hundreds of thousands of Nelson Mandela Bay residents and visitors to Port Elizabeth’s beaches to ring in the New Year on Sunday, the last big day of the season.
Described as a resounding success by officials and police, the smooth-running season and almost incident-free New Year’s Day were attributed to a major clampdown on alcohol consumption.
Five children were separated from their families on Sunday – four of them reunited the same day – and there were no drownings in the city despite the massive turnout on the beaches.
Sports, recreation, arts and culture political head Siyasanga Sijadu said all seven of the metro’s major events had been well attended.
“People are starting to recognise our city as the holiday destination – it seems they are very impressed by the city,” Sijadu said.
She said about 15 000 people had attended the launch of the summer season on December 16.
The fifth Ebubeleni Music Festival at the Aldo Scribante motor-racing circuit was attended by more than 18 000 while the Countdown New Year celebrations at Hobie and Wells Estate beaches attracted more than 95 000 revellers.
About 300 000 people flocked to the beaches on New Year’s Day.
Sijadu said although the zero-tolerance policy on alcohol was viewed as drastic by some, it had worked well on the beaches.
But she said: “There were quite a few people who sneaked in alcohol at Wells Estate beach because they are not used to this rule, but we will get more people to monitor our beaches.”
Although the no-alcohol rule was not new, it had not previously been enforced, creating a culture of allowing alcohol on city beaches.
Metro police chief Yolande Faro said the New Year’s weekend had been a great success due to the joint efforts between all law enforcement authorities in targeting drinking on the beachfront.
Thousands of rands in traffic fines were also issued at the weekend and several roaming roadblocks set up along the beachfront.
Faro said no drownings had been reported on the beachfront and fewer accidents and fights were noted.
Four children who became separated from their families on the beachfront were classified as “lost children” and assisted by the authorities.
“All these children were reunited with their families during the day,” she said.
Police spokesman Andre Beetge said police were still trying to locate the family of a two-year-old boy who was found at Wells Estate on Sunday.
“Law enforcement officers’ visibility was key,” Faro said.
“Proactive policing and zero tolerance towards transgressors definitely assisted in a safer festive season.”
“Groups of officers were deployed on foot to interact with crowds and stop anyone from consuming alcohol.”
Fires along the beachfront, which had been an issue in the past, had been quickly addressed and beachgoers forced to put the flames out.
“Traders operating illegally on the beachfront were also fined and warned,” Faro said.
Roadblocks continued along the beachfront yesterday.
Meanwhile, municipal workers filled hundreds of refuse bags through the course of the day yesterday.
Deputy mayor Mongameli Bobani said clean-up operations had started at the beginning of last month, with more than 200 workers employed to keep the beaches and the city clean.
“We had a great summer season,” he said. “Our beaches were packed and more people arrived in the city for other events we hosted.
“Our security cluster, traffic officers, SAPS and metro police have been on top of their game. They have played a pivotal role in ensuring we are having an incident-free season.”
Workers at Humewood said they had been collecting more than 50 bags of rubbish a day.
Bobani said the municipality would have a clearer picture on the season next month.
Law enforcement officers’ visibility was key