DEAR Editor,-
What a joke to read the article in last week’s Herald about St Mike’s residents ‘applauding’ and saying that the event was well-organised! We wonder which part of St Mike’s these residents stay in?
It was absolutely awful to witness the ‘takeover’ of a residential area for such an event and is totally unacceptable. This, in spite of the fact that we, as residents, were guaranteed a well-controlled, all alcohol barred event.
Other disturbing facts are: the noise level was too high; litter and empty alcohol bottles left on the road were unacceptable; people drinking and then being allowed to drive; illegal parking on private property; indecent behavior (condoms were found on our pavement); urinating on the pavement in full view of passers-by, and finally, the stench of urine on the beach was unbearable on Monday morning
We had to contact Protection Services to remove vehicles parked illegally, blocking the entrance to our property and we want to thank them for responding immediately.
A family due to check in was so upset with what they witnessed that they did not stay, but decided to rather sleep over in Durban before returning home, saying they would never return to the South Coast. A very vivid imagination is not required to know what kind of stories they will tell friends, because as they say, ‘nothing works better than word-of-mouth advertising’.
Bad enough to allow this to happen within the boundaries of a residential area, but to make matters worse, it was scheduled to coincide with the start of the school holidays?
When will the ‘powers that be’ realise that the South Coast’s sole income comes from tourists? Why on earth would anyone still find the South Coast attractive when potholes, crime and general neglect is evident everywhere – just look at the toilet situation at St Mike’s beach!
And to top it off, residents are forced to witness these events over and over again? I cannot understand what the need for the ‘after party’ could have been, as it certainly was not to promote or attract future tourism.
All our guests who attended the actual jazz festival on Saturday, left on Sunday morning, so the crowd that was attracted on Sunday was very obviously from the local community.
JOHAN VAN AARDT
Mountjoy Guest Lodge, St Michaels-On-Sea
