With the busy festive period right around the corner, the Kouga Local Municipality is hard at work to ensure that all members of the public are safe while visiting the various beaches in the area.
According to Kouga Community Services Portfolio Councillor, Daniel Benson, due to the strict COVID-19 lockdown restrictions last year, beaches were closed, and bathers were not always monitored, since they were not meant to be at the beach.
This year, however, Benson said they expect a busy festive season, which will result in bathers flocking to the main swimming beaches, when weather permits.
He said during this year’s festive period, the municipality will ensure that by-law enforcement officers patrol the beaches and react to complaints.
“We will place additional officers on duty at the Main Beach in Jeffreys Bay and a 4×4 quad bike, which has been procured for by-law enforcement officers, will patrol on the beach and respond on the sand if required,” said Benson.
Furthermore, he said traffic control would be highly visible to control and regulate traffic flow at the known busy areas.
Added security cameras were in the process of being installed throughout the Kouga area, which would include beach front areas.
To ensure that bathers were safe while they visited the beach, Benson said a total of 12 blue flag lifeguards would be on duty at Main Beach from November 1, to April next year, who would be working on a rotational basis with six lifeguards on duty at all times.
He further said swimming beaches, which included, Kabeljous, Pellsrus, Aston Bay, Lagoon, Paradise Beach, St Francis Main Beach, Cape St Francis, and Oyster Bay, would be covered by lifeguards from December 1 to January 14.
In addition, attention would be given at Granny’s Pool area when needed.
Gamtoos River Mouth and Yellow Woods Park in Hankey would be attended by lifeguards on December 16, 25, 26, 31 and January 1.
“Lifeguards will be visible at all the beaches where swimming is allowed, to monitor conditions, protect bathers and to conduct rescues when needed,” said Benson.
Apart from the multiple lifeguards present at the various beaches, Benson said two shark spotters would be on duty, with one based in Jeffreys Bay and the other in the St Francis and Cape St Francis area.
To further add to the safety at the beaches, the municipality has advertised lifeguard positions for the festive period and would employee a total of 12 blue flag lifeguards, two shark spotters, 35 lifeguards and seven crew leading lifeguards.
The lifeguards will be coordinated and supervised by two senior lifeguards.
To promote COVID-19 safety at the various beaches, the municipality was currently erecting signage at the various beaches to encourage people to adhere to the protocols.
“As part of the COVID-19 protocol, beaches will be monitored by lifeguards with by-law enforcement, and the SAPS will be present to enforce regulations,” said Benson.
To promote good communication and handling of situations, he said throughout the holiday season there is a functional joint operations committee established who will meet every day.
The committee consists of all the emergency role players who provided feedback on the previous day.
In addition, the committee also discusses problems to decide on improvements and implementations of solutions.
“We will have to be vigilant at all times. Great teamwork will be expected between the various role players to make this a safe and successful festive and holiday season which will be dependent on COVID-19 level restrictions at the time,” said Benson.
