Huge support for festive season safety plan as Ballito prepares to welcome visitors

The KwaDukuza council last Thursday unveiled its operational plan aimed at ensuring law and order during the holiday influx.

Working hand-in-hand with Saps and local security companies and medical teams, the municipality’s community safety department will focus on key areas.

These include road safety, preventing drownings, reducing crime, increasing police visibility and prompt response to incident callouts.

The council report indicated a phased approach of planned activities during December and January.

In the build-up to the festive season, clean-up operations have already been undertaken, while high visibility policing remains a priority.

Operations will include multi-disciplinary roadblocks, checking especially for drinking and driving, and ensuring public transport meets safety compliance, among others.

Patrols and roadblocks will be held at all KwaDukuza beaches.

Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association (Docrra) chairperson, Deon Viljoen, said he understood there was good cooperation among all the relevant civil society structures and private security providers in response to the festive season safety plan.

“It is impressive to note the extensive support of the plan from the business sector, which even includes the use of a helicopter if needed,” Viljoen said.

He said Docrra had made significant contributions to two neighbourhood watch festive season management funds which contract private security services to lend support, especially at beaches.

“The Dolphin Coast is blessed with a strong civil society, immense support from business and a proactive team at the KDM Community Safety and Security Department, albeit with limited resources,” he concluded.

Marshall Security has also come to the table and will provide support by, among others, making vehicles available to transport KwaDukuza municipal members for patrols, crime prevention and responding to criminal activities. While they will predominantly be deployed in Salt Rock and Ballito, they will respond to other areas if needed.

Hawks Protection Services will provide two unmarked vehicles with armed reaction officers ready to assist law enforcement officers.

iLembe Chamber of Commerce CEO, Cobus Oelofse, said by-law enforcement remains crucial with special attention needing to be paid to combat alcohol consumption in open spaces.

“Although this is a standard annual process for all law enforcement agencies, the volumes that need to be dealt with will be especially challenging this year,” he said.

The Chamber will lend its support to agencies working to ensure the safety of holidaymakers and locals alike this festive season, and will also partner with both the Salt Rock and Ballito neighbourhood watches.

Oelofse said the local hospitality industry would cash in on the poor water quality of eThekwini beaches.

https://www.citizen.co.za/north-coast-courier/199930/north-coast-blue-flag-beaches-a-festive-season-booster/

“Our seawater quality remains top class and the number of significant tourism events such as the Ballito Rage and Ballito Big Week are adding to the region’s popularity.

“The feedback we have received from tourism operators and letting agents is that longer stays have already been booked and very limited short stays are available.”

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