An apparent shortage of public toilet facilities along Strand’s Beach Road over the festive period has irked many locals, who claim beachgoers have been doing “their business” in full view of others on the dunes and behind shrubs.
“It’s horrifying,” said Sune Bester, who resides in the Van Ryneveld area. “Even worse is watching families with kids playing on the dunes afterwards.”
Another complainant, Christelle Bester, said currently there are four bathrooms close to the lifesavers’ club, two portable toilets near Ben’s Restaurant and a few more near Strand Pavilion.
“On the busier days these were the only public toilets available for approximately 100 000 people,” she said. “At the time of the water shortages the showers were turned off at the lifesavers, and on Monday 26 December the bathrooms at the lifesavers got blocked and started overflowing really badly as it was not flushing.
“This meant that only the other two facilities were available and 2 km apart. It was really an unpleasant situation. The cleaners were fantastic, and it’s a pity that the shortage of bathrooms was not addressed.
“I don’t know how council can justify this. I just think that we have this amazing stretch of beach and the people of the Helderberg deserve better.”
Asked to comment on the matter, Ward 83 Councillor Carl Punt said all the permanent toilet facilities remain open to the public and there are also four temporary toilets placed on the beach front, two of them placed at the Law Enforcement’s caravan at Deep Blue.
“There are three permanent toilet facilities in the area of the dunes,” he said. “There are no reason why people need to use the dunes to relieve themselves.
“People’s behaviour needs to change in this regard but it’s not due to a shortage of bathrooms.”
Bester added she hoped the administrators and heads of department resolve the issue ahead of the next busy season.
“Besides the bathrooms, it was a fantastic season with loads of people enjoying the beaches,” she said.
