Drunken revelry at Westbrook

Since November parties over weekends and public holidays have angered residents at Westbrook Beach. This party, on December 16, was worse than others, say residents, who had to call for the police to exercise more control over revellers. The picture was taken by one reveller, who said he enjoyed the parties. Photo:Supplied

Since November parties over weekends and public holidays have angered residents at Westbrook Beach. This party, on December 16, was worse than others, say residents, who had to call for the police to exercise more control over revellers. The picture was taken by one reveller, who said he enjoyed the parties. Photo:Supplied

Published Dec 22, 2014

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Durban - It’s been party, party, party on Westbrook beach since November, say residents, and those trying to get a decent night’s sleep to get up for work in the morning are sick of it.

The beach, near Tongaat, falls under eThekwini Municipality.

 

Residents said young people from all along the North Coast have been converging on the beach at weekends and on public holidays for nights of partying and drinking.

“It’s like a street bash,” said resident Arkash Singh, “They play loud music, drink and leave the beach looking like a war-zone.”

Many revellers are still there in the morning, sitting on the side of the road waiting for their lifts.

“What angers me are the ones who drink the whole night then drive home drunk,” said Singh.

Beverley Houston, who can see the beach from her house, said parents should take responsibility for their children.

“These kids are drinking and behaving recklessly – their safety is at stake.”

Housesitter Agnes Motolo said she had not been able to sleep a wink as the dogs she looked after barked all night.

“I am worried that criminals are taking advantage of the situation because there are a lot of strangers around and we don’t know who is who.”

 

Ward councillor Geoff Pullan called the revellers “drunksters” (drunk teenagers) and said he was concerned about their safety.

“Most of them are very young and shouldn’t be attending such parties. We are not against them using the beach but we can’t stand by and do nothing while our youth behave this way,” he said.

He said the party on the Day of Reconciliation left the beach unusable the next day with broken bottles everywhere, even in the sand.

Nazir Sadack, from the Tongaat Community Policing Forum, said they had asked for police intervention after the December 16 party because it was a matter of time before someone got hurt.

“They were trashing the place. Apparently there’s fighting at every party and two people were stabbed during one,” he said.

Janine Van Rooyen of the NGO “Clean and Jackup Westbrook” said while everyone had the right to use the beach “we are concerned about the environmental impact”.

Some party-goers managed to sneak liquor in despite the police being at the beach entrance checking vehicles for alcohol and weapons.

“The police cannot control the number of people who enter the beaches, but we are monitoring the beaches to keep the community safe and arrest those who break the law,” said provincial police spokesman Thulani Zwane.

The Mercury

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