Festive season safety plans

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - With the holiday season at hand, preparations are being made in the greater Mossel Bay area for a normal holiday season, in the hope that Covid-19 will not spoil holidaymakers' plans like last year.

Several partners in the safety sector hosted their first joint meeting to discuss initiatives to ensure visitors to Mossel Bay, as well as locals, enjoy a safe festive season.

The commanders of the four police stations serving the greater Mossel Bay area were present, along with community safety and police forum management, representing the neighbourhood watch groups. Municipal senior management including the head of community safety, Henry Williamson; Joseph Johnston, head of Mossel Bay Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services; acting municipal manager Colin Puren; and mayoral committee member Councillor Leon van Dyk, who manages the safety portfolio were present at the meeting.

Not tolerated
The meeting was chaired by Colonel Khutala Masakala, commander of the Da Gamaskop Police Station. Masakala stood in for Brig Phumzile Cetyana, who later joined the meeting. Cetyana arrived later from a trip to Cape Town.

"We want everyone to enjoy the season, but we will not tolerate disruption. If people disrupt our peace, they will sleep in our cells," Masakala said firmly.

She was station commander in Hout Bay. She said that although it would be her first holiday season in Mossel Bay, she would apply her experience gained in Hout Bay, one of South Africa's favourite summer holiday destinations.

Van Dyk said there would be a strong anti-alcohol abuse focus. He made specific reference to motorists driving under the influence of alcohol and the ban of alcohol on beaches.

It was confirmed that quad bike and horse patrols would again be used by law enforcement during the season, specifically in hard-to-reach beach areas. Law enforcement kiosks would operate for added safety in hot spots.

Several other challenges and possible solutions to streamline safety operations in the medium and long term were discussed during the meeting.

Van Dyk confirmed that thanks to partnerships with members of the community, air support provided by helicopters and paragliders would be available in emergencies.

He briefly spoke about the radio and LPRC (licence plate recognition camera) system in place, that provided broad coverage in terms of crime management in the region from Gourtiz River to Great Brak River.

As for beach safety, Johnston said that lifeguards on Mossel Bay's main beaches had already been deployed and during the holiday season, all 26 beaches would be serviced by lifeguards. Colonel Boniswa Mpato of the police Sea Border Unit, said that unit too would conduct regular patrols from 1 December.

In closing, Brig Cetyana commended the parties present for their excellent cooperation and support to the police.

Partners in the safety sector in Mossel Bay held their first joint meeting on holiday season safety measures. Photo: Cornelle Carstens