Raise an alcoholic drink to your lips in alcohol-prohibited areas of Buffalo City Metro this Christmas, and you will be arrested. Even at party hangout spot, Ebuhlanti.
This message was repeated by Buffalo City Metro (BCM) mayor Alfred Mtsi with the backing of police, traffic and municipal safety heads at the launch of the Rave But Behave festive season safety plan yesterday.
Mtsi prefaced his comments with an appeal to families and friends to relax and have great fun together, but to do so responsibly.
He announced that six of the long-awaited CCTV cameras would be working on the beachfront to record criminal and antisocial behaviour.
BCM health and public safety portfolio committee chairwoman, Helen Neale-May, told the media that the cameras would be in place by the first week of December.
Mtsi said alcohol-free areas were well signposted. He appealed to residents to obey and not bring drink to the areas, which include Ebuhlanti.
However, he admitted that the condition of the area was not conducive to the family vibe council sought, and discussion and planning was underway to improve it.
He said people who planned to “open shebeens” down at the beachfront would face the might of the law.
He appealed to residents to not make fires outside of designated areas, to not drink and drive or dive, but also to not walk alone.
He urged residents not to “flaunt” their bling such as watches, jewellery, and cellphones and leave them at home, and not in their cars or in sight of criminals.
East London police cluster commander Major-General Lungile Nqamqele said police had a duty to ensure the safety of South African and international tourists especially during the festive season.
He said alcohol-free zones would be viewed as “no-go areas” and people who drank in public would be arrested.
Police would be taking action at other hot spots, such as Leaches Bay and Fullers Bay.
BCM acting regional traffic commander Quintin Chetty said his officers would have a zero tolerance approach to drinking and driving.
He said the department had successfully approached the justice department to raise drunk driving bail from R500 to R2000.
The mayor said his council was working on a plan to “clean” BCM’s beaches of litter and destructive social behaviour and to create a place for “clean entertainment”.
He said it was up to the public to support the effort and to get rid off people “doing all sorts of indecent things” in public areas. — mikel@dispatch.co.za
Be festive, but not with booze
This message was repeated by Buffalo City Metro (BCM) mayor Alfred Mtsi with the backing of police, traffic and municipal safety heads at the launch of the Rave But Behave festive season safety plan yesterday.
Mtsi prefaced his comments with an appeal to families and friends to relax and have great fun together, but to do so responsibly.
He announced that six of the long-awaited CCTV cameras would be working on the beachfront to record criminal and antisocial behaviour.
BCM health and public safety portfolio committee chairwoman, Helen Neale-May, told the media that the cameras would be in place by the first week of December.
Mtsi said alcohol-free areas were well signposted. He appealed to residents to obey and not bring drink to the areas, which include Ebuhlanti.
However, he admitted that the condition of the area was not conducive to the family vibe council sought, and discussion and planning was underway to improve it.
He said people who planned to “open shebeens” down at the beachfront would face the might of the law.
He appealed to residents to not make fires outside of designated areas, to not drink and drive or dive, but also to not walk alone.
He urged residents not to “flaunt” their bling such as watches, jewellery, and cellphones and leave them at home, and not in their cars or in sight of criminals.
East London police cluster commander Major-General Lungile Nqamqele said police had a duty to ensure the safety of South African and international tourists especially during the festive season.
He said alcohol-free zones would be viewed as “no-go areas” and people who drank in public would be arrested.
Police would be taking action at other hot spots, such as Leaches Bay and Fullers Bay.
BCM acting regional traffic commander Quintin Chetty said his officers would have a zero tolerance approach to drinking and driving.
He said the department had successfully approached the justice department to raise drunk driving bail from R500 to R2000.
The mayor said his council was working on a plan to “clean” BCM’s beaches of litter and destructive social behaviour and to create a place for “clean entertainment”.
He said it was up to the public to support the effort and to get rid off people “doing all sorts of indecent things” in public areas. — mikel@dispatch.co.za
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