Thousands of visitors at beaches warned to play it safe
By Nomahlubi Sonjica from "The Herald" - http://www.theherald.co.za/
TENS of thousands of people are expected to descend on Nelson Mandela Bay and Garden Route beaches today for New Year‘s festivities while the good news from the weather office is that no rain is predicted along the coast.
Cool conditions are expected in both regions, however, with cloudy weather becoming partly cloudy, and a maximum of 22°C forecast for Port Elizabeth and 21°C for the Garden Route.
A warning from the weather office in Port Elizabeth is that the sea is expected to be rough in the morning as well as the afternoon. Holidaymakers have also been warned against drinking and swimming.
NSRI Port Elizabeth spokesman Ian Gray said: “People should remember safety is first and foremost their own responsibility.”
He warned people not to go swimming after dark. “We‘ll be conducting patrols by vehicles, boat and aircraft if the weather allows us to fly.”
Gray said the NSRI would be on the lookout for people in danger.
He said that if people saw someone drowning, they should not attempt to go into the water to rescue them unless they were sure they could help.
He urged parents to keep an eye on their children and to report drowning incidents as soon as possible.
“Those reporting incidents should stay where they are because we will need to get some information from them. If they are phoning us from their cellphones, they should keep them on.”
Ray Farnham, the spokesman for the Plettenberg Bay NSRI, said they would also be ready for people today. “We know that New Year‘s is a day of celebration, but we urge people to try to limit the intake of alcohol.”
He said people should only swim in demarcated areas where there were lifeguards.
Nelson Mandela Bay police spokesman Superintendent Johann van Greunen said the police would be visible all over the city.
“We want to clamp down on drinking and driving. Roadblocks will be all over Port Elizabeth, especially around the beaches.”
Phumeza Mgxashe of Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism said more people than usual were expected to visit the city‘s beaches.
“Inquiries and bookings made via our call centre have mainly been from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and East London.”
Mgxashe said a number of accommodation establishments had informed them that they were fully booked.
Municipal spokesman Lourens Schoeman warned drivers that vehicles parked illegally on sidewalks would be towed away.
TENS of thousands of people are expected to descend on Nelson Mandela Bay and Garden Route beaches today for New Year‘s festivities while the good news from the weather office is that no rain is predicted along the coast.
Cool conditions are expected in both regions, however, with cloudy weather becoming partly cloudy, and a maximum of 22°C forecast for Port Elizabeth and 21°C for the Garden Route.
A warning from the weather office in Port Elizabeth is that the sea is expected to be rough in the morning as well as the afternoon. Holidaymakers have also been warned against drinking and swimming.
NSRI Port Elizabeth spokesman Ian Gray said: “People should remember safety is first and foremost their own responsibility.”
He warned people not to go swimming after dark. “We‘ll be conducting patrols by vehicles, boat and aircraft if the weather allows us to fly.”
Gray said the NSRI would be on the lookout for people in danger.
He said that if people saw someone drowning, they should not attempt to go into the water to rescue them unless they were sure they could help.
He urged parents to keep an eye on their children and to report drowning incidents as soon as possible.
“Those reporting incidents should stay where they are because we will need to get some information from them. If they are phoning us from their cellphones, they should keep them on.”
Ray Farnham, the spokesman for the Plettenberg Bay NSRI, said they would also be ready for people today. “We know that New Year‘s is a day of celebration, but we urge people to try to limit the intake of alcohol.”
He said people should only swim in demarcated areas where there were lifeguards.
Nelson Mandela Bay police spokesman Superintendent Johann van Greunen said the police would be visible all over the city.
“We want to clamp down on drinking and driving. Roadblocks will be all over Port Elizabeth, especially around the beaches.”
Phumeza Mgxashe of Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism said more people than usual were expected to visit the city‘s beaches.
“Inquiries and bookings made via our call centre have mainly been from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and East London.”
Mgxashe said a number of accommodation establishments had informed them that they were fully booked.
Municipal spokesman Lourens Schoeman warned drivers that vehicles parked illegally on sidewalks would be towed away.
