“What do we do next?”

Despite active police controls in preparation for the festive season, Westbrook and Blythedale beaches were still trashed by drunken beachgoers last week.

Police were stationed at the beach entrances with the intention to keep out alcohol and maintain order, but residents claimed they did not do enough.

Westbrook’s Erika Molver, Jennifer Steynfaard and Kirsty Jane Botha said the police should be paying more attention.

“They might stop people from going down to the beach area, but that does not stop them from partying and drinking. These hooligans sit across the road and trash it there. Why are the cops not seeing this and doing something about it?” asked Botha.

While Westbrook Beach residents could make their way home way through passed out people, empty beer bottles and food wrappers, some Blythedale residents were not so lucky. Jodi Chetty said Blythedale Beach was a complete war zone.

“Wild, drunk beachgoers took over the residential area and jammed our entrance points. Residents were left feeling terrified to leave their homes. I could not go home. I phoned the police and was politely told ‘the roads are blocked, you cannot come in and there is nothing we can do’.”

Fellow resident, Dianne Steyn said she was stuck in the queue of cars until 10.30pm, petrified.

“Something has to be done. We need to close the top of Blythedale from the highway, so that they cannot come in.”

Westbrook councillor Geoff Pullan said the police are trying every possibility to stop this behaviour, but the beachgoers always find a different way to smuggle alcohol in.

“Our metro police have been at the entrance to the Westbrook beach 24/7. They stop and search the boot of every car. The city has even poured soil along the M4 to create ‘berms’, so that people cannot drive off the M4 to the top parking and avoid the police search. The vehicles have no liquor in the them, but the party goes on,” said Pullan.

“Some people are being dropped off at Casuarina Beach, carrying their liquor along the beach and bringing it to the top parking. Others are letting their friends carry bags of liquor along the M4 and climb through the bush to the top parking. These young people are determined to get ‘smashed’.”

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join us on BBM at 59015786
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.