City gears up for the last weekend of the festive season
The municipality is expecting one last boom of visitors to Durban's beachfront this weekend, before the start of the school term.
ETHEKWINI municipality is anticipating more people will visit Durban as we approach the last weekend of the festive season.
The municipality has assured all safety and security measures will remain in place to ensure holidaymakers continue to enjoy their stay in the city incident and hassle-free.
Chairman of the Festive Season Management Committee (FESMAC), Christo Swart, said as most people are currently busy buying last-minute supplies in preparation for the school year, the numbers of people visiting Durban’s beaches have decreased over the past week.
Swart said around 481 968 people were recorded to have been at the various beaches since the beginning of the week, about 44 rescues were carried out and 649 people received first aid for minor cuts and blue bottle stings. No drowning was reported. Six arrests were made at the central beachfront for offences such as pickpocketing, fighting and unruly behaviour. Estimates of 11 709 litter bags were collected during this week. Approximately 161 children went through the separated children’s tent and were collected by their guardians/parents on the same day.
He said the number of people at the beaches was expected to pick up over the coming weekend, as people would go have one last splash in the waves before starting the official school year.
“I would like to sincerely thank all patrons for their co-operation with our officials and law enforcement officers. I assure them that their safety is our priority,” said Swart.
Roads around the Suncoast Casino and Ushaka Marine World/Point precinct have been opened to allow the free flow of traffic. Other road closures around the beachfront will be cleared on Monday, 19 January.
