THE city’s festive season management plans, as well as a new project on the cards to police the streets in the Durban CBD, were discussed at the Combined Safety and Justice Business Forum meeting at Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday.
Presenting on the Festive Season Management Plan (FESMAC), Natasha Govender, senior manager of the central beachfront from eThekwini Municipality’s Economic Management and Planning Department, said plans were in place to ensure this was a well-run and well-managed festive sesason.
She said the plans for the management of the beachfront over the holiday season have been discussed in partnership with Parks, Recreation and Culture, DSW, Metro Police, SAPS, eThekwini Transport Authority and the UIP.
“We have identified gaps relating to infrastructure issues, security and litter picking, and are working to fill these. We recently employed an infrastructure contractor to assist in fixing issues as they arise, such as to maintain showers and to address breaks, and have recently advertised for a public space management contractor to help manage the beachfront as a top up service, to ensure Durban remains the tourist destination it is,” she said.
Govender said the festive season, which runs from 17 December to 7 January was a very busy time for Durban, especially in light of the newly opened promenade extension, which has been included on the plans.
“There will be on the day management on the ground for the extension area as it is very busy there. We did a walk around on 29 November with the deputy mayor, Metro and SAPS to see where there are gaps in safety and security, and to see where more lighting can be added, as we want people to feel safe and secure on the beachfront,” she said.
ALSO READ: New Durban promenade a huge hit with locals
Other plans include a park and ride service, which has operated over the past three festive seasons and has proven to be a success.
Taxis will need to park at the old drive-in site, and beachgoers will be transported by bus to the beachfront. Govender said 400 buses have been organised through City Fleet.
She said booms will be in place at entrances to the beachfront, however these will only be lowered if traffic is gridlocked, and for a short period of time. Additional showers and ablutions will be available at the drive-in site as well as a picnic area and an area for informal traders to set up shop, although they would need to apply for a permit to trade through the municipality.
“We have also awarded a contract for an additional 24 hour ambulance and tow truck for the beachfront, and lifeguards have requested for two drones to be used, specifically at New Beach, to help keep an eye on what is happening in the sea. We have appointed 18 litter contractors, and around 200 litter pickers for the drive-in site and beachfront, so there will never be a time when there isn’t someone available to clean,” said Govender.
She said the Department of Environmental Affairs was talking about making the beachfront more accessible to the disabled, and although uShaka beach has a mat which is used for wheelchair access to the sea and a floating chair, more needed to be available. She said the department would be piloting a mat on other beaches.
Regarding safety and security, chairman of the UIP Company Ebrahim Vadachia, said he was currently working with City Story on getting more eyes and ears on the ground in the city.
He said huge progress has been made in a matter of months, and 100 people had been screened for positions as street ambassadors in the area.
ALSO READ: City Story to make a change in Durban
“This process has been monitored along with City Story and we are confident and pleased we took up the opportunity to join the project. We currently have 96 ambassadors and hopefully this number will grow,” he said.
Vadachia said the plan was to have the ambassadors on the ground, and 12 supervisors on bicycles. He said they would work two shifts, from 6am to 2pm and 2pm to 10pm in designated areas in Durban.
“They will be extra eyes and ears on the ground and can cover a significant area. There shouldn’t be any area which is unpoliced, unpatrolled and uncleaned. We feel the running of the city is the responsibility of everyone and the dirt and lawlessness can be eliminated if we work together to make a difference. These ambassadors are between the ages of 20 and 28 and were previously unemployed. This project will help uplift them and include them in society again. They could be future security officers or police officers,” he said.
He said the partnership with City Story would enable the UIP to extend its footprint to the area behind the Wheel Shopping Centre which was a notoriously bad area.
“We have a plan in place and from January we will be working in earnest to clean up and take the area back from the dealers. The drug scene is so serious. We will work with City Story to make a change in the city,” he said.
He urged people with any issues in their communities to find champions within their communities and to set up a UIP.
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