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As the festive season approaches, the greater Knysna municipality is bolstering its readiness to ensure a secure and enjoyable holiday experience for both residents and visitors. The Acting Municipal Manager of Knysna, Setloane Malepeng, recently outlined a detailed Integrated Seasonal Readiness Plan effective until January 31, 2025, focusing on enhanced traffic management, law enforcement, and beach safety.
Key components of the readiness plan include the deployment of additional traffic officers and point duty personnel to manage increased vehicular flow during peak times. A total of eight traffic officers will monitor Knysna’s roads daily for over 11 hours, while around 20 point duty officers will direct traffic at critical intersections to maintain safety and minimize congestion.
Law enforcement efforts will also be intensified, with teams led by senior officers and reinforced by 16 peace officers specifically assigned for the holiday season. Malepeng has reiterated the municipality’s zero tolerance policy towards any infringement of municipal by-laws, underscoring the potential consequences for violators, which could include fines up to R1,000 or imprisonment.
The safety at local beaches is another focal area. A team of 28 lifeguards will be stationed across Knysna’s beaches from December 15, 2024, to January 15, 2025, supplemented by eight lifeguards before and after this high season window. This initiative is crucial, especially following the recognition of Swartvlei beach with the Green Coast Award by the Wildlife & Environment Society of South Africa, an accolade that celebrates community-led conservation efforts in coastal areas.
Additionally, Malepeng warned of the ongoing rabies outbreak among the Cape fur seal population and urged the public to avoid interaction with seals and report any suspicious behavior to CapeNature. This advisory is part of a broader effort to protect public health and ensure the wellbeing of wildlife.
As Knysna prepares to host a flux of holiday-goers, the municipality encourages everyone to plan their travels considering the expected delays and to respect the shared public spaces, adhering to the guidelines set to ensure a collective enjoyable holiday experience.