- Dozens of people took advantage of the heat and flocked to beaches throughout the province.
- Patty Butterworth of Plettenberg Bay Tourism said the seaside town has had a lively summer season so far.
- In Cape Town, law enforcement officers have been hard at work policing alcohol consumption on the beaches.
Tourists from all over the country flock to the beaches of the Western Cape to cool off as temperatures soar during the festive season.
Patty Butterworth of Plettenberg Bay Tourism said the seaside town has experienced a lively summer season so far, despite initial concerns that tourists may be staying away after shark attacks earlier in the year.
Since then, the city has implemented a shark awareness program and the municipality has partnered with Shark Spotters.
Other measures, such as cameras and a new alarm system, have also been introduced to help with shark awareness, Butterworth said.
She said that accommodation in the city had been heavily booked, but the exact number of visitors had not yet been established.
“The beaches have been very busy. There are a lot of swimmers, surfers and body boarders in the water,” Butterworth said.
Several tourists also took advantage of the activities on the river and visited the local shops.
“It has been a very good summer. We are not back to pre-Covid-19 numbers yet, but the season has been better than expected,” she said.
READ | 1 in 5 Cape Town businesses face ‘extremely unreliable’ power as load loss bites
The Mother City’s beaches were also packed with tourists, with the city of Cape Town forced to close several parking areas when they reached full capacity.
“Our beaches were incredibly crowded, but no major incidents were reported. Unsurprisingly, alcohol use once again proved problematic,” said JP Smith, Mayco safety and security member.
According to Smith, the City’s Liquor Enforcement Unit seized 14,088 bottles of alcohol, totaling 7,043 liters, in just 10 days.
Tourists enjoying the beaches.
“Unfortunately, these statistics far exceed the figures for 2019. Back then, we had just over four thousand liters and half the number of bottles seized so far this year.
“Alcohol seizures are a huge topic of conversation every year, and while many take it lightly, it’s actually an indictment against our society and its dysfunctional relationship with alcohol,” he said.
Smith reminded the public that alcohol is prohibited in open public spaces, including beaches.
Meanwhile, the popular Strandfontein Pavilion was also abuzz with activity this week, as jam-packed vehicles pulled up to the beach full of excited children wanting to get to the water.
However, many drivers had to practice patience as there were a large number of law enforcement officers stopping each vehicle to check licenses and make sure no one was bringing in any illegal substances or alcohol.
Residents enjoying the beach during the festive season.
The Smith family of Mitchells Plain said they weren’t sure they could get a spot on the beach, because the traffic leaving the area was a “nightmare.”
“I think we spent about two hours in traffic trying to get to the Pavilion because the kids wanted to be poolside and we didn’t have gas money to drive to the Sea Point pools, so this was a cheaper option for us.” said Simone Smith.
Tourists enjoying the beaches.
He added that when they arrived at the pavilion, they were forced to queue as there were many traffic officers stopping and searching each car.
“That was also annoying because the delay in getting to the beach felt more like a long walk.”
For Lauren Jacobs and her four-year-old son, being at the beach was a “breath of fresh air.” She said it was a “relief” that the pavilion was open, considering that some of the beaches had been closed. due to sewage problems.
“I thought since the sewage was flowing towards Muizenberg, it might also hit Strandfontein Pavilion, which would mean the beach would probably have been closed. Thank goodness it wasn’t and the kids were free to have fun.”
“I’m also happy that there were plenty of lifeguards visible on the beach, which made the experience even more great.”
