THIS year will mark my 15th year working at the Zululand Observer, and for 10 consecutive years (2005 – 2015), I was the journo on the beat over the Christmas and New Year period.
It’s safe to say I was pretty much in the loop when it came to preparations ahead of the festive season – from visible policing, beach planning, traffic roadblocks to public safety and tourism predictions.
The City of uMhlathuze was a frontrunner in many respects, one of which was its zero tolerance approach to crime, especially in public recreational areas and beaches. I personally attended many beach and safety contingency planning meetings hosted by the municipality ahead of the festive season.
Alkantstrand was classified a ‘no alcohol zone’ with several roadblocks where authorities searched vehicles and confiscated all alcohol and dangerous weapons on entry to the beach parking lot.
With strong visible policing at recreational and bathing areas, strict enforcement was exercised which ensured a safe environment for bathers.
Nothing has changed much over the past decade when it comes to the number of people flocking to the local shoreline.
In 2012 for example, 150 000 visitors flocked to Alkantstrand on New Year’s Day.
The irony, however, is that the zero tolerance approach saw minimal reports of criminal incidents on the local shoreline, fewer children missing and fewer reports of drownings and rescues.
With a huge influx to the beach in 2012 for example, only three missing children were reported and reunited with their parents.
Motorists, residents and visitors to the area were warned of the strict ‘no drink and drive’ campaign from as early as November and beachgoers were made aware that cooler boxes with liquor would be confiscated.
Null and void
So, when were the rules relaxed or at what point did the municipal by-laws become null and void?
Prevention is always better than cure, so if one life can be saved through proactive measures, then it must be implemented.
Let’s not beat around the bush. There is a direct correlation between intoxication and related incidents on the beach, including missing children, unruly behaviour leading to criminal incidents, injuries, drownings and trashing the site with broken bottles and litter.
It is easier for lifeguards to communicate with sober swimmers than trying to convince intoxicated bathers that they are entering dangerous zones in the water.
Over the past festive season, excluding the past busy weekend, 430 first aid incidents were dealt with, a number of which were related to injuries from broken alcohol bottles.
Lifeguards had to reunite 113 lost children with their families. Prior to the festive season, intoxicated bathers threw rocks at city lifeguards when they tried to warn swimmers to stay within designated swimming zones.
Under the city’s beach by-laws (chapter 3), it clearly states that no person shall use alcohol within the designated area. Any person in contravention will be guilty of an offence and liable, upon conviction, to a fine or imprisonment not exceeding a period of six months, or to both the fine and imprisonment.
Under the nuisance by-laws, it states that a person may not appear in any public place in a state of intoxication.
Over the festive season, there were several roadblocks in Mtubatuba and St Lucia and all vehicles were checked by authorities for alcohol and weapons. eThekwini Metro police made a strong statement to beachgoers who were drinking in public over the festive season by confiscating the liquor and pouring it down the drain. Fines were subsequently issued for public intoxication.
So the pressing question is: why is the city lagging behind when it comes to strict enforcement on public drinking, especially at our beaches and recreational areas? Until 2018, authorities worked hand-in-hand with city security to ensure strict policing and confiscation of liquor.
What has changed? The public needs answers.
These decisions have had serious repercussions and nobody seems to know why rules changed overnight and city by-laws have suddenly become null and void.
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