Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Extra roadblocks on New Year’s Eve, drivers warned
LAW enforcement will be out in full force this weekend as crowds are likely to flock to the beaches and revellers ring in the New Year. Festive celebrations are expected to draw huge crowds to central Cape Town, the V&A Waterfront, coastal towns and entertainment venues.
Western Cape traffic and safety officials warned drivers they would conduct extra roadblocks and random alcohol testing during this busy period.
Those who broke the law should expect harsh penalties. “The public comes out to party and the city is ready to ensure that, as far as possible, everyone has fun without the risk of crime or injury,” said the mayoral executive member for safety, JP Smith.
The City said it had already deployed law enforcement and traffic staff in the central city and other popular destinations for the traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The City would work with the police to combat drunk driving and to ensure traffic management, he added.
Smith said various departments had joined forces to ensure the entry into 2018 ran smoothly, particularly in the hot spots around the beaches, the CBD, Long Street and the Waterfront.
More than 1 000 law enforcement and metro police officers will be on duty on New Year’s Eve, with some putting in 20and even 24-hour shifts.
“We cannot sustain this kind of visibility but we are stretched to absolute capacity and many of our staff have volunteered for the overtime,” said Smith.
Some staff will clock in at 6am on New Year’s Day and will only go off-duty at 4am on January 2.
The busiest period is expected between today and New Year’s Day.
Smith said the water crisis had impacted on plans since only one- third of the city’s municipal pools were open.
“We’ve increased the number of lifeguards at the beaches in anticipation of an increase in the number of visitors.”
Smith said there would be several roadblocks, roaming vehicle checkpoints and increased visibility to keep residents and visitors safe.
“We have a dedicated roadblock unit which will be conducting one-and-a-half to twohour roadblocks at various points across the city.”
He warned that motorists found over the legal alcohol limit or in possession of illegal substances would be arrested.
Western Cape provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa said he expected high traffic volumes on the West Coast, Sir Lowry’s Pass and the Huguenot Tunnel.
Between December 1 and December 28, the death toll on Western Cape roads was 142.
“The behaviour of motorists still leaves much to be desired. The contributing factors to the accidents remain reckless driving – drunken driving, speeding, overtaking when it’s not safe to do so,” Africa said.
He said there had been an increase in cellphone use while driving, and a failure to wear seatbelts.
A 14-year-old girl who was allowed to drive lost control, killing her mother and injuring her father and her sister in Montagu on Christmas Day.
Africa said: “It’s a collective effort and we appeal to parents and motorists to act responsibly.”
Certain roads will be closed in and around the CBD as preparations for the Cape Town Street Parade celebrations begin.
The Cape Malay Choirs Parade will take place this weekend and the roads where sec- tions will be affected include Keizergracht and Wale, Darling, Parade, Parliament, Buitenkant, Long and Loop streets. They will be closed from 6pm on Saturday to 4am on Sunday.
On Tuesday, temporary road closures will also be in place in the city centre and surrounds to accommodate the minstrel events.
During this period, there will be no access for buses and taxis in Adderley Street, and parking restrictions will apply to the affected roads.
The City has also adjusted its MyCiTi bus service to accommodate revellers travelling to some of the popular sites.
On New Year’s Day the last bus will depart from the V&A Waterfront to the Civic Centre at 2am.
Drivers can expect delays and traffic diversions on routes around the Atlantic Seaboard and False Bay coastline between Strandfontein and Muizenberg.
MyCiTi buses, coaches, minibus-taxis and tour operators will have preferential access to the Atlantic Seaboard and private vehicles can be redirected if there is a gridlock.
Smith said good weather had been forecast for Cape Town.
The City’s law enforcement services would ensure fireworks were discharged in designated areas.
Smith said fireworks should only be discharged at the same sites designated for Guy Fawkes, which are: Athlone Stadium parking area (eastern side), Klipfontein Road, Athlone Wesfleur sports field; Reygersdal Drive in Atlantis, Bishop Lavis sports field; Lavis Drive; Bishop Lavis, Metropolitan sports grounds; Melkhout Street; Bonteheuwel, Blue Downs sports field; Blue Downs, Maiden’s Cove parking area; Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Delft Central sports grounds; Main Road; Delft, Macassar Beach parking area; Macassar Road; Macassar, Swartklip sports complex; Swartklip Road; Mitchells Plain, Sarepta sports complex; Sarepta, Strandfontein Pavilion; Strandfontein and the Tourism Centre; Athens Road and the Table View beachfront.
The cut-off time for discharging fireworks, he added, is 12.30am on January 1.
“Should weather conditions, such as the wind, not be conducive to the discharge of fireworks on the day, the designated sites will automatically be closed,” said Smith.