Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
City braces for holiday crowds
Public urged to keep a watchful eye as criminal activity increases
AUTHORITIES are bracing themselves as thousands of revellers are expected to head to city beaches and popular party strips this long weekend.
The Cape Town weather bureau predicts soaring temperatures of 29-30ºC for tomorrow and the Day of Goodwill.
Capetonians have been warned to look out for criminals as an anticipated 50 000 to 75 000 people are likely to flood the streets, drinking spots and restaurants in the city and its surrounds in the run-up to New Year’s Eve.
Cape Tourism estimated 17 000 more visitors arrived by plane than last year.
In total, 1 139 operational members from the metro police, traffic services and law enforcement are to be deployed.
Authorities have been clamping down on criminal activity in the CBD and the city’s law enforcement has reported 823 incidents, of which 352 were criminal. Forty arrests were made, according to mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith.
“There will be roadblocks, roaming vehicles, checkpoints and increased visibility at all places of public interest,” Smith said.
The Central City Improvement District (CCID) has identified three prevalent crimes: ATM fraud, theft from motor vehicles and pickpocketing.
“The CCID, together with its law enforcement partners, has put measures in place to address these issues, such as stop- and- search operations looking for dangerous weapons and car break-in implements,” said Muneeb Hendricks, CCID safety and security manager.
Police spokesman Lieutenant- Colonel Andre Traut warned: “Opportunistic criminals use the relaxed atmosphere of the holiday season and overcrowding to perpetuate crimes such as theft, pickpocketing and robbery. We want to make an urgent appeal to the public to be vigilant and to know their surroundings. Do not trust strangers and be wary of suspicious people. Conceal valuable items and avoid ATMs in isolated areas.”
Weekend Argus has reported law enforcement, metro police and traffic officers would be stretched over the December to January period because some departments in the city were understaffed. The city has 450 traffic officers, 550 metro police officers and 600 law enforcement officers to oversee the entire road network over the holidays.
Smith said:“Most crimes are opportunistic in nature and so it stands to reason that big crowds or busy areas will attract would- be criminals looking to pounce on unsuspecting members of the public.”
The CCID is boosting its efforts, particularly from Wednesdays to Saturdays when the night-time economy is “most active”.
“We will have a complement of 80 CCID public safety officers on duty 24/7, as well as an additional 10 officers per shift. Each shift will also have five lock-up vans patrolling along with two rapid-response vehicles.
“We now have two additional officers on St Georges Mall and another eight dedicated to the rest of the CCID footprint. The Long Street Association has also funded an additional eight officers just dedicated to Long Street area.
“CCID will also run joint operations with the police and the city’s law enforcement, traffic, metro police and social development departments,” said Hendricks.
Smith said more than two million people visited beaches, “averaging more than 100 000 people a day on most days during December and January”.
He added city beaches experienced the highest influx of visitors in the past 10 years and the Identikidz programme had been implemented for children at eight beaches.
“Parents and caregivers can register their children when they arrive at participating beaches. An armband is put on the child, with contact details of their parent or caregiver. In the event that the child is separated from their family, this then helps city staff or the police to reunite the child with their family. In the event that a child’s family is not tracked down by the end of the day, the child will be handed over to the Western Cape Department of Social Development.”
Mayoral committee member for community services Anda Nstodo said there were lifeguards and shark spotters on duty, as well as police patrols at most beaches.
The city’s solid waste department has budgeted R32 million to keep the city clean.