GEORGE NEWS - Municipal law enforcement officials are on duty at all of George's main beaches where they will be enforcing a ban on alcohol and zero tolerance for drunken unruly behaviour.
Victoria Bay residents Lizette and Jacques Viviers, who welcomed their presence, said that since law officials began policing the beach, there has been a marked improvement in the behaviour of the public.
Lifesavers are also at their post.
Officials do search through beachgoers' luggage as they arrive - and if they find alcohol they politely ask members of the public to take the alcohol back to their cars.
Manned beaches
Lifeguards will be on duty at George's beaches from 07:00 to 19:00 every day until 31 January 2018.
The beaches are Victoria Bay, Herold's Bay, Gwaing River Mouth, Wilderness Lagoon, Wilderness Main, Steps and Leentjiesklip.
Athane Scholtz, George Municipality communications officer, said law enforcement officers will be on duty at these beaches throughout the season to deal with matters related to unlawful activities on the beach.
Trained and seasoned lifesavers on duty this season at Victoria Bay are, from left: Morgan Douglas (crew leader), Estian Potgieter, Amoreen Engelbrecht, Quiten Potgieter, Jandré Strydom and Riel Viviers. Riel's mother Lizette will provide a Christmas lunch to the lifesavers and law enforcement officers in appreciation of their civic-mindedness, since, she says, "life savers earn just enough to pay for sun protection cream".
"The public is reminded to swim between the flags and obey lifeguards' instructions.
"Should the situation call for it, lifeguards would defer to law enforcement officers on duty. Municipal law enforcement officers are trained in a range of skills, including conflict resolution and crowd management.
"Should the situation call for it, the assistance of the police will be called in."
Municipal law enforcement officers will be present at the above-mentioned beaches from 06:00 to 20:00, except where SANParks has jurisdiction.
Law Enforcement for SANParks recreational areas is managed by SANParks.
Lifeguards will also be on duty at the Conville swimming pool from 09:00 to 16:00 every day.
Beach behaviour
"While relevant municipal and SANParks signage regarding beach behaviour - in English and Afrikaans and including emergency numbers - are present on beaches in the George area, it is also general knowledge that drinking of alcohol and unruly behaviour is forbidden.
"Relevant and related information in this regard is also regularly distributed on several forums.
"Irrespective of whether signage is visible from the point a person has accessed the beach, alcohol use and unruly behaviour on beaches will not be tolerated."
Keep these numbers handy:
Incidents occurring outside attendance times can be reported on 044 801 6300 and the local police on 10111.
SANParks Garden Route National Park, Wilderness Section can be phoned on 044 877 0046.
• Note that there is a ban on dogs on beaches. The only beach sections that are dog-friendly are the stretch in front of Die Duin at Wilderness; and west of the Wilderness Beach Hotel (Former Holiday Inn Hotel), as well as the Kleinkrantz parking area up to and including 6th Avenue to the west and the first rocks at Gericke's Point to the east.
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