No control at Blythedale Beach

Blythedale Beach residents say the 2013 festive season was the worst they have ever experienced.
Many residents decided to leave town for the holiday as thousands of party goers and holidaymakers flocked to the beach for a party that lasted almost a week over Christmas and New Years Day.
Residents had pleaded with the KwaDukuza municipality to put proper controls in place before the annual Blythedale Beach festival on December 26 and 27 (‘Please behave on our beaches’, Courier, December 27, 2013).
However instead of improving, residents claim the partying and noise spiralled out of the control of police and traffic officers.
When the Courier arrived in Blythedale on New Year’s Day police and traffic officers had set up a roadblock at the entrance, but were not stopping every vehicle to check for alcohol.
Several taxis filled with screaming passengers were waved through, while others who had their alcohol confiscated began throwing glass bottles at passing vehicles.
Taxis were driving contra-flow to skip the traffic heading into the parking lot, located in the middle of the residential area.
Most of the homes surrounding the parking lot were empty.
A spokesperson for the Blythedale Beach Residents Association (BBRA) called it “unbelievable”.
“The partying continued right through the night of December 31 to the early hours of New Year’s Day. Municipal cleaners were at the beach at about 5.30am on Wednesday morning to take away all the dirt, only for the place to be totally trashed again that night.”
He said the partying continued through the weekend.
“All day, all night. It was shocking.”
KwaDukuza municipality communications director Sifiso Zulu said New Year’s Day is always busy for law enforcement officials as beaches from Zinkwazi to Ballito must be policed.
He said 28 qualified traffic officers, 10 points persons, two security guards, 20 police officers and three wardens were placed at Blythedale from 5am until 10pm.
“This was not the only beach that we needed to serve. Over and above that, we have 27 wards to manage during the same period and we need to respond to any call for assistance from other areas. Our officers performed to the best of their ability during this time.”
Zulu said emergency services met with a representative from the BBRA to explain operational planning for January 1 and received positive feedback.
“Regarding allegations of taxis going through without being stopped and vehicles not searched for alcohol, that remains an allegation. In terms of the plan there were three security points. Residents may have been delayed as they wanted to get into Blythedale due to large volumes of traffic. However, no resident who identified herself as such could be denied access to their properties.”