Metro unveils beachfront safety campaign

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism has joined forces with the police, the municipality and other roleplayers to make the Port Elizabeth beachfront a safe haven for locals and visitors over the festive season.

The so-called Golden Mile, from Kings Beach to the beacon in Summerstrand, has been identified as a hot spot and will be the focus of a pilot project that kicks off on Saturday.

Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism CEO, Mandlakazi Skefile, says while safety is not their mandate it is important for the tourism authority to be part of this initiative.

She says while the focus is on the main beachfront, plans are in place to beef up security at other beaches as well.

"We had to ensure that safety of our visitors will be taken care off throughout the city that is why this project was then initiated to ensure that all key tourism sites, the safety measures are being taken care off" Skefile said

Meanwhile, Port Elizabeth police cluster commander, lieutenant-general Dawie Rabie, says the police want to ensure a safe environment for all visitors to Nelson Mandela Bay as well as locals.

Speaking at a media briefing on Friday he said members of the mounted police and officers on motorcycles will be supporting security officials from Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to secure the main beachfront over the festive season.

" The focus will be on the bylaw enforcement, obviously we cannot have people drinking along the beaches, we will also never allow dangerous weapons as it will not be tolerated, so the police on the Beachfront will be looking for those type of items" Rabie said.