The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has warned that it will have no tolerance whatsoever when dealing with drinking and other crimes on all beaches over the festive season.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Safety and Security, John Best, and Major-General Dawie Rabie of the Police addressed the media on their festive season safety plan in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
“The SAPS started with the implementation of our plans as far back as October and are currently conducting roadblocks in line with the Arrive Alive campaign,” Major-General Rabie said. “Special operations at our ports of entry and visible patrols on our beaches in conjunction with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) will take place and soon we will also embark on crime prevention operations.”
He added that zero tolerance with alcohol consumption will be maintained.
Best said the Metro Police will have officers on cycles doing duty at the beachfront. In addition, twenty “tourist safety ambassadors”, which had peace officer training, will also do duty at the Donkin and along the beachfront.
“Since we launched the Metro Police, we intended to work very closely with the South African Police Services. We never intended to go the arduous journey of fighting crime alone”, Best said. “It is therefore essential good that SAPS has a similar approach to our broad objective to maintain a zero tolerance campaign against drinking on our beaches.
“It is also not helpful if people are not allowed to drink on Kings Beach, Hobie and Pollok but they can be drunk at Maitlands beach. We will therefore enforce this directive at all our beaches and law enforcement will take place in all sixty wards in Nelson Mandela Bay,” said Best.
Advocate Keith Meyer, Executive Director for Safety and Security, said the implementation of the municipal plan started on 2 December.
“We will make sure that you have a safe festive season and we would like to send a clear message.
“We will not allow any breathing space for criminals,” Meyer added.
Plans are afoot to launch the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Festive Season Safety Plan and the SAPS safety plan for next year at the same time to ensure greater efficiency and cohesion.
