Alcohol seized on Cape beaches
More than 21 000 litres of alcohol was confiscated at city beaches since the start of the holiday season on December 1.
|||Cape Town - More than 21 000 litres of alcohol have been confiscated at city beaches since the start of the holiday season on December 1.
The SAPS hauled in just under half, while the city confiscated and picked up more than 11 000 litres of alcohol - a 100 percent increase over December last year - said the City’s director of safety and security, Richard Bosman.
Nearly a third of that total, about 3 000 litres, was confiscated over the Christmas weekend.
Those caught with liquor on the beaches were fined R500, Bosman said.
They have to pay R1 000 to have their liquor returned to them, he added.
Bosman said beachgoers bringing alcohol onto beaches were committing a crime punishable by law.
“We banned alcohol completely on beaches. We want to prevent drownings, people fighting and children going missing.”
Bosman said there were many more law enforcement officers on the beaches at this time of the year.
They city had boosted the ranks of enforcement officials over the last eight months.
He said they had worked closely with the SAPS.
At a briefing on Tuesday, acting provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Gary Kruser thanked officers for their dedication and efforts over the festive season.
“Go out there and make the communities of the Western Cape safer. In executing your duties, be vigilant at all times. We cannot afford to lose more police members.
“Your safety comes first,” he said to a number of units on parade.
Kruser said their special operations for the festive season had been fruitful.
To ensure the public’s safety for the rest of the holidays they have beefed up their manpower, deploying 200 reservists to Operation Combat.
Kruser said there would be many visible patrols in communities, public spaces and beaches.
Since December 16 the police have arrested more than 9 000 suspects for various serious crimes including murder, possession of illegal firearms and drugs.
Kruser said they would focus on a number of areas, including gang-infested communities like Manenberg, Hanover Park, Steenberg, Grassy Park, Ottery, Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain.
Illegal shebeens are also on their list of hot spots, Kruser said.
He said problems caused by heavy drinking spiked over the festive period, with many road crashes and cases of child neglect reported, but they were on high alert and visible.
Over the past few weeks, he said, police had confiscated 5.4kg tik, 1 676kg dagga, 2 950 mandrax tablets, 49 illegal firearms and 7 543 rounds of ammunition.
“We have identified gang areas and we have a special operation that is producing results.
“We look at beaches to make sure people have fun (but) without infringing their right to do so,” said Kruser.
sandiso.phaliso@inl.co.za
@PhalisoSandiso
Cape Town