Overstrand Municipality’s Protection Services Directorate officially launched its festive season safety plan on Tuesday, 15 December 2020, in Hermanus.
The general message was that the December holidays will bring new challenges to keep residents and visitors safe during the holiday season, while adhering to the new COVID-19 restrictions that President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday to curb the infection rate.
Mayor Dudley Coetzee’s address focussed on the impact COVID-19 had on Protection Services who have been rendering an essential service since the beginning of the pandemic and added that as 2020 draws to a close, the corona virus had reared its ugly head again.
The Mayor confirmed that Overstrand beaches will remain open between 09:00 – 18:00. “We were given the privilege to allow our beaches to stay open so that they can be enjoyed – please be responsible and heed to COVID-19 health and safety advice,” he added.
The Mayor said Overstrand is expecting an influx of visitors and while this is good news for the tourism economy, it will have a huge impact on service delivery and law enforcement agencies during the season.
He urged everyone to support Western Cape Premier Alan Winde’s plea to all residents to wear a mask when they leave home, to wash hands regularly, and avoid queues wherever possible. In instances where you must queue, ensure that you are keeping a distance of 1.5 metres. If you are entertaining family and friends at home, keep the gathering small and try to keep it outdoors. Drink responsibly and do not share drinks, cigarettes, or cutlery.
He concluded by saying ‘if we can encourage residents and visitors to do that, we will defeat this virus.’
The operational plan for this period will include the following:
- Increase law enforcement presence during the festive season with a zero-tolerance approach
- Visible patrolling on a 24/7 basis
- Random roadblocks
- On-going policing of issues such as speeding, drunken driving and vehicles which are not roadworthy
- Prevention of social crime
- Safety awareness tips and how to reduce the possibility of being a victim
- Interaction with the public and the promotion of fire safety
- Fire season has started, and the threat of destructive veld fires increases
- safeguarding of municipal assets
- effective beach monitoring and control
- maintaining and improving of the quality of operations on Blue Flag beaches
- effective responses to and managing of emergencies
PLEASE NOTE: The 24-hour Fire & Rescue control room is contactable on 028 312 2400 (fire, accidents, drowning etc). For day to day law enforcement complaints, phone 028 313 8996 or other safety and security issues, phone 028 313 8980. For general enquiries phone Overstrand’s control room on 028 313 8000 or 028 313 8111 for basic services emergencies.
