Residents panic over Blythedale Beach festival

With the festive season approaching, Blythedale residents are bracing themselves for possibly another year of the notorious Blythedale Beach festival.

The annual event organised by KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) for the past seven years, sees more than 10 000 party goers stream into Blythedale Beach, drinking and partying up a storm during December 27 and 28 – leaving residents outraged.

The Day of Reconciliation on December 16 also attracts a large crowd and last year saw a man die because the ambulance could not get past the masses.

This year, the festival has been allocated R1.6 million of the KDM budget.

Also read: Blythedale beach parties still not cutting it

One of the residents, Astheria Oosthuizen said the partying from dusk ‘til dawn was completely disruptive and that residents objected to it every year to no avail.

“People drink, dance, play loud music all night long and leave the place in a horrible state.

“Residents see people having sex on the beach and sleeping in the driveways. We cannot leave or enter Blythedale because of the chaotic traffic. Every year, residents object to the festival and every year, it falls on deaf ears.”

Following the nonstop partying last year, KwaDukuza mayor Ricardo Mthembu vowed to try and get the festival moved to Nonoti Beach this year, saying that he ‘felt sorry’ for the residents.

However, the Blythedale residents and ratepayers association chairperson (who asked not to be named) said he has not had any communication from the mayor’s office yet.

The approaching festival has been causing panic in the Blythedale village.

“I wrote to him five weeks ago but I have not received any communication since. We have to go ahead with planning and coordinating with the traffic officers and the police. This has to happen well before the festival.”

KwaDukuza mayor Ricardo Mthembu told the Courier last Monday that he will be keeping his promise.

The matter has not yet come to council nor has a decision been taken.

“We are working on the issue and it will be discussed in the council where a decision will be made.”

Councillors who sit in the economic development and planning portfolioes were invited to an on-site inspection at Nonoti Beach last week.

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