The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has appealed for safety and security measures along the beachfront to be stepped up as the festive season approaches.
In a letter to Mayor Gary van Niekerk and SAPS District Commissioner Major General Vuyisile Ncata, the Chamber says its beachfront cluster had noted a recent significant increase in crime in the area.
This was exacerbated by the lack of visible policing and poor lighting in the area.
Chamber CEO Denise van Huyssteen said they are working with the Beachfront Safety Sector and Summerstrand Neighbourhood Watch to install cameras and improve the lighting in identified hotspot areas.
Almost exactly a year ago, the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) launched an initiative to ensure 24-hour security along the beachfront, a collaboration between businesses, tourism organisations, and other stakeholders.
The joint operation centre was located at the PE Yacht Club at Hobie Beach where staff monitored CCTV cameras along the beachfront.
An amount of R500 000 was raised for the initiative, which would have lasted at least a year.
Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism Specialist, Shaun van Eck said the Forum was still active.
According to van Eck, they have done a lot by way of security cameras, not only at Hobie Beach but also at Something Good and the S-bend in Summerstrand.
"A generous sponsorship by The Boardwalk and the City Lodge Group enabled us to hire Citywide Security to monitor all of the cameras.
"Proper monitoring is in place and the network is getting broader," he said.
Van Eck added that safety initiatives were an everyday job as muggings and scamming along the beachfront were an almost regular occurrence.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) meanwhile said the party has put together a five-point plan that can be rolled out immediately to ensure the safety of tourists and residents during the Metro's summer season.
DA spokesperson for Safety and Security, Gustav Rautenbach said the beachfront, which is the biggest draw card for tourists visiting the city, has never been more dangerous.
"People are being attacked and robbed at knife point while the streets are dark due to streetlight outages.
"There is also a total lack of safety procedures from the metro police and municipal department of safety and security at the beachfront," he said.
The DA's plan, among others, contains the reparation of all faulty streetlights along the beachfront as well as lights on the pier and walkways, and increasing the number of metro police, security vehicles, and foot patrols at the beachfront
