OPINION: Festive season failures in Umdoni Municipality need to be addressed
The points were raised by Ward 15 councillor, Dana Daniels.
I extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the SNAP patrollers, Park Rynie Crime Watch, Keep Scottburgh Beautiful, and the broader community, all volunteers, for their invaluable contribution to the festive season. I further acknowledge the efforts of Saps, law enforcement, the Bobbies on the Beat, private security companies, and municipal workers, who worked tirelessly, often under challenging circumstances.
These collective efforts, particularly those who were out nightly clearing our streets and beaches of litter, broken bottles, and assisting with the management of disorderly behaviour, did not go unnoticed and are highly commendable.
This festive season also highlighted serious shortcomings:
1. Music Festival at Park Rynie beach campsite in December: Council was assured this event would be family-friendly and conclude at 22:00. Music continued until approximately 23:00; fireworks were discharged without prior notification to residents; incidents of drunken, aggressive behaviour and street fighting were observed late at night. These actions are in direct contravention of Umdoni Municipality’s Fireworks by-laws, which prohibit the use of fireworks on beaches and in public places without prior written approval. I visited the event on multiple occasions and observed conduct that was clearly inconsistent with a family-friendly environment.
2. Scottburgh beach pavilion: For several months, I formally requested that temporary safety measures be implemented at the deteriorating beach pavilion after a previous near-miss injury. Repeated assurances were given that this would be addressed before the festive season. Regrettably, these assurances were not honoured, and another holidaymaker narrowly avoided injury when additional concrete fell. The continued neglect of this key beachfront asset undermines tourism appeal and economic potential.
3. Supertube area – lack of access control: Despite requests, the unsafe and crumbling supertube area was not cordoned off. I observed individuals standing on top of the structure while consuming alcohol, creating a serious and unnecessary safety risk.
4. Festive season planning: Despite numerous requests, no formal municipal festive season planning meeting involving all relevant role-players took place. It is my firm view that this lack of coordination contributed to preventable incidents.
5. Saps reservists (Bobbies on the Beat): Saps reservists were only paid for their April duties just before Christmas, despite having already worked for several weeks in December. This occurred only after repeated phone calls, emails, and visits to the office of the acting municipal manager.
6. Beach management resources: Of serious concern is the fact that the beach manager was left without a municipal vehicle during the busiest and highest-risk period of the year, a decision that defies operational logic in a critical tourism zone.
7. Non-enforcement of municipal by-laws: Numerous municipal by-laws intended to protect residents and visitors were routinely not enforced, including those relating to public drinking and disorderly conduct, noise and public nuisances, illegal fireworks, unregulated car guards, offensive and dangerous behaviour.
To prevent a recurrence of these failures, I have formally submitted a request for these matters to be placed on the agenda of the next full council meeting and recommended accountability measures where officials failed in their responsibilities. In addition, I have submitted a formal letter to the Public Protector regarding the ongoing collapse of the Scottburgh beach pavilion and the apparent disregard for public safety.
DA CLR DANA DANIELS
WARD 15
(Letter shortened)
* Umdoni Municipality has been made aware of the points raised.
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