PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plettenberg Bay residents are demanding action against public drinking, especially in the Odlands picnic area, after three children were allegedly hit by what is believed to be drunk drivers over the past weekend.
According to information available, a six-year-old girl was knocked over by a vehicle at the Odlands traffic circle near the picnic area on Sunday 16 December during a hit-and-run. The driver allegedly jumped out of the vehicle and attempted to flee the scene.
Marius Venter of the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) said there was a passenger in the vehicle as well. “It is believed that when the driver jumped out, he jumped behind the wheel and drove off,” Venter said, adding that the passenger was apprehended for drunk driving.
Way over limit
Police spokesperson Captain Marlene Pieterse confirmed the arrest and said the incident involved a 23-year-old man. He was arrested after he nearly hit an off-duty police officer’s vehicle with the Toyota Corolla he was driving at the time, she said. Venter said the other man allegedly involved was arrested by law enforcement officers near Central Beach shortly thereafter.
“He was given a breathalyser test and tested 1.2mg/l,” Venter said. (The legal limit is a breath alcohol content of 0.24mg per 1 000ml.)
The extent of the child’s injuries is unclear at this stage.
There were also reports on social media of another incident where two girls were allegedly knocked over by a vehicle after the driver drove up the pavement opposite Cornuti in Odlands. Police were unable to confirm this incident.
Stabbing incident
Venter said there were several other alcohol-related incidents on the same day. He said two men, believed to be under the influence, were involved in an argument at Melville’s Corner and started stabbing each other. “There were also incidents of people throwing over rubbish bins and making amok in the streets.”
The PBCPA also responded to an incident where three children were left behind at the Odlands picnic spot, Venter said. “Their parents were allegedly drinking and left without their children.”
This comes after a barrage of complaints on social media about public drinking in the area. It is not the first time there have been complaints about the issue. Over the last festive season, several businesses in the area had to close their doors after drunk and disorderly revellers caused havoc and placed the safety of employees and patrons at risk.
'Set up a roadblock'
The best course of action, he said, would be to set up a roadblock in Piesang Valley Road and ensure that revellers do not get behind the wheel when inebriated.
“It is against the law to drink in public and it needs to be enforced. History has taught us that public drinking turns to public violence,” Venter said.
Municipal spokesperson James Sijama said the municipality would be deploying "at least 10 Law Enforcement officers", with a primary responsibility of traffic management and crowd control. "We are also trying to get the police on board, more specially for the public drinking."
