5 arrested in drunken beach brawl

Five people were arrested for riotous behaviour following a drunken brawl in the parking area at Muizenberg beach.

Cape Town - Five people were arrested for riotous behaviour following a drunken brawl in the parking area at Muizenberg beach on Monday evening not far from the law enforcement office.

The group of between 10 to 15 people had reportedly been drinking on the beach before moving to the parking area where a fight broke out between some of the men who were armed with knives and bottles.

Witnesses reported cement slabs were broken off from the walkway and flung at law enforcement officers, although Richard Bosman, the city council’s executive director for safety and security, said he couldn’t confirm that.

He said five suspects were arrested for riotous behaviour and were taken to the Muizenberg police station.

Bosman said they couldn’t confirm what sparked the brawl, but that they had received a complaint at about 5pm about a fight on the beach between several people.

Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that five suspects were arrested. The Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) said the incident took place close to the law enforcement offices at the Muizenberg Pavilion and escalated onto the Promenade near the water slides.

It said that this was within the beach amenities area, falling under the jurisdiction of the city council’s sport and recreation department which had its own security to deal with public safety.

Steven Frankal, MID’s chairman, said: “This incident highlights the need to see a stronger law enforcement presence across the entire beach front.”

He said Muizenberg was recently named one of the top surfing towns in the world.

Frankal added that the MID public safety vehicle patrolled the main beach area between the Civic Centre and Surfer’s Circle.

The MID public safety control room can be contacted at 021 762 3813 if people were harassed or threatened in any way.

helen.bamford@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

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