We do not mind having people here. But they must behave.
This was the general consensus at a meeting of concerned Blythedale residents on Thursday afternoon, following two nights of loud partying at the Blythedale Beach car park.
Residents up to two kilometres away from the car park were kept awake until the early hours of last Tuesday morning while party-goers celebrated Reconciliation Day on December 16.
One of the residents, who did not want to be named, said it is the worst night he has had in Blythedale since moving there in 1988.
“The loud music, the screaming, the hooting – it was just out of control. Taxis kept coming in to drop off more people and the alcohol was flowing.”
The beach was left in a shocking state on Tuesday morning with some residents finding people passed out on verges and pavements.
Residents collectively stated they want the KwaDukuza municipality and KwaDukuza SAPS to take firm control of the situation.
“The beach is for everyone and we cannot say nobody must come down here. The only thing we ask is that people stop drinking in public and turn their music off at a reasonable hour. Also, they should clean up after themselves.”
Residents said this is the first time they have felt scared in their own homes.
“We noticed taxis leaving the main road and driving through residential areas, which is unnecessary. Our businesses are suffering because our guests do not want to deal with this on holiday.”
The group believe despite police checking for alcohol at the entrance to Blythedale, some party-goers are sneaking liquor onto the beach through a pathway off the main road.
“Our fear is that in an emergency, police and ambulances will not be able to access the beach because there are people misbehaving everywhere.”
According to a spokesperson for the Blythedale Ratepayers Association (BRPA), the village was in a deplorable state.
“It is a disgrace that this type of behaviour is taking place and it is very concerning that the community security and SAPS acknowledged that they could not do anything about it,” the spokesperson said.
Veronica O’Dwyer, the litigation partner at Schulz Wiesinger O’Dwyer law firm and a resident in Blythedale, was up all night due to the noise from the beach.
She phoned officials at KwaDukuza municipality and Umhlali SAPS and both parties conceded that the situation was uncontrollable.
“It was totally out of control, I would even say it was anarchy. The way people were behaving was unacceptable,” she said.
According to both O’Dwyer and the BRPA spokesperson, people were also driving around drunk.
“I shudder to think what holiday-makers would think. We cannot put up with this sort of thing for two weeks,” said O’Dwyer.
Attempts to get comment on a resolution from KwaDukuza municipality were unsuccessful.
