Durban prepares for a busy Easter weekend as over a million visitors are expected, with heightened police presence and lifeguards deployed to ensure safety across beaches, roads and public spaces. Picture Credit: Imgur
By Aisha Zardad
Kwa-Zulu Natal — The eThekwini Municipality is ramping up operations ahead of a busy Easter weekend, with authorities expecting a surge of around 1.2 million visitors across Durban.
Mayor Cyril Xaba confirmed that a large-scale law enforcement deployment is already underway, targeting key areas including tourism hotspots, major routes, shopping centres and places of worship.
“Their duties include patrolling tourism sites, freeways, shopping malls, and church gatherings,” Xaba said.
With road safety and crime prevention at the forefront, the City has intensified its visibility and enforcement measures.
“We intend to minimise road crashes and crime in general. We cannot achieve this alone but we need full cooperation from road users to ensure they abide by the rules of the road,” he added.
More than 1,000 police officers have been assigned to maintain order throughout the holiday period, while coastal safety has also been prioritised.
“We are delighted that 20 of our bathing beaches remain open and safe for swimming, alongside 42 swimming pools across the city. To protect bathers, 200 lifeguards have been deployed along the coastline. In addition, the newly established Coastal and Tourism Policing Unit will patrol 100 kilometres of our coastline on foot, horseback, in vehicles, and on bicycles,” the Mayor said.
Law enforcement efforts are already yielding results. During a multidisciplinary operation in Isipingo, south of Durban, authorities stopped 2,000 vehicles. Of those, 100 motorists were fined for vehicle defects, 15 for moving violations, while several summonses were issued.
Police also effected 22 arrests for outstanding warrants and detained five drivers, signalling a firm stance on compliance as the city prepares for one of its busiest holiday periods.
