Police in Port Elizabeth arrested four teenagers in connection with the murder of another teenager on the city’s Beachfront.
The 17-year-old Curtly Alexander from Palmridge in Bethelsdorp was stabbed in the chest in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu, said that police were alerted "at about 05:30" on Sunday to a body lying on the beachfront’s parking lot.
Thousands of people, mostly youths, flocked to the city's beachfront on Saturday night for the annual opening of the season festivities.
Naidu says police received information on Sunday afternoon and arrested three teens at their homes in Arcadia, Bethelsdorp, while a fourth suspect was taken to the police station, by his mother.
The suspects are between the ages of 16-18. The two sixteen years old will appear in court on Monday and the older suspects on Tuesday. They are all being charged with murder and more arrests are expected.
Naidu said a fifth suspect, aged 18, handed himself over to police on Sunday. He will appear in court on Tuesday.
The head of Safety and Security in Nelson Mandela Bay, John Best, said: "although very saddened by this death, the full operational plan ended at 2.30am Sunday, and by then there were no reports of any stabbings."
"The majority of the operational staff had gone off duty at 3 am, but there was still staff stationed to patrol the beaches.
Naidu says police usually have their “hands full’ during the annual Opening of Season celebrations but added that increased visibility made their jobs easier compared to previous years.
Six people were arrested for drunk driving, nine for drug-related offences and several illegal firearms were confiscated.
Naidu urged communities to be responsible during this time to ensure a safe festive season for all.
