Beach crime sparks fears for Toti tourism
Tourism body is aghast at a huge increase in petty theft over the July school holidays and fears it will harm tourism in the area.
How can we market ourselves as the tourism destination of choice with all this crime engulfing us?”
That’s the cry from Sapphire Coast Toti Tourism (SCTT) after a crime-ridden July holiday period.
Toti accommodation establishments experienced a positive occupancy rate, but the number of visitors who were victims of crime and will now possibly never return, has tainted that.
“These holidays were a nightmare after visitors on our beaches experienced a terrible spike in bag snatching, which cost them thousands of rands to replace car keys, and stolen cellphones and wallets,” said SCTT chairman, Kim McCarthy.
“I personally demanded a public service from the police station on Sunday, 7 July, but it was only during Captain Sunker’s night shift when we received some positive attention after ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge intervened.
Toti needs to concern itself with the seriousness of irresponsibly sustaining beggars and illegal substance abusers who refuse to go to NGOs and churches for rehabilitation, a problem which is further exascerbated by ineffective policing.
The feedback I received from our international visitors was that after dark Toti has become a ‘no-go zone’.
The situation is out of control and intolerable for tourism. If the city could execute all the bylaws during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, then why not now?” asked Kim.
“Law enforcement ignores the carguards who harass and threaten local and visiting motorists at Toti main beach and outside the mall in Beach Road,” said Toti resident, Alan Gray.
“All manner of civil disobedience is taking place there, including soliciting, whoonga dealing, prostitution and littering.
The atmosphere is one of Third World crime and grime.
I have a tenant who only moved to Toti last week and he has already complained of the hostile carguards in Beach Road. The police need to do something.”
The Community Crime Prevention Organisation confirmed it had received a number of complaints of petty theft in the vicinity of Beach Road during the holidays.
The Sun’s queries to Toti SAP and Metro Police elicited no response.
