Update
PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The biggest joint safety plan yet has been devised for this year’s Plett Rage student festival ahead of the annual influx of thousands of school leavers expected to arrive from Friday 1 December.
Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) spokesperson Marius Venter said this year’s security plan involves cooperation between a large group of authorities and organisations.
“Everyone is working on this, from the police and the PBCPA to NPOs and locals,” Venter said.
Although Bitou municipality has still not confirmed this year’s venue approval following applications to make use of Central beach and the farm Coco Valley outside Plett – off the N2 adjacent to Buco – the security plan has been drawn up around these venues.
Free transport
One of the major focus points is the transport of students, which will be free to students travelling designated routes to and from Coco Valley between 19:00 and 04:00, by designated service providers.
As long as students reside within the town’s residential area, the taxi associations involved have committed to dropping them at their accommodation on their homeward journey to avoid students walking home at night.
Daytime and nondesignated routes will be “cash rides”. The agreed rates will be displayed in each accredited taxi.
About 15 cellphone numbers will be circulated to the students and their accommodation establishments to enable youngsters and those hosting them to call authorised taxis to service their transport needs.
In view thereof that accommodation is spread over a wide area again this year, various authorities have put plans in place to monitor student movement across the town through intense patrols.
Intense patrols
Several police vehicles, along with officers, will be deployed to focus on Rage patrols along Central and other frequented beaches, the N2 towards Coco Valley as well as the residential areas where students are scheduled to stay.
Police will also conduct patrols on foot and possibly horseback.
Bitou’s law enforcement unit will also be out in full force along key points while Bitou and provincial traffic departments will be deployed to ensure safety of students on the town’s roads.
Over and above extensive patrolling, the PBCPA will run the VOC at Coco Valley and also deploy its newly acquired mobile operations caravan to serve as an external JOC at the Engen garage in the Poortjies area.
Patrollers will be able to collect resources such as magnetic signs, Plett Rage branded security vets and various other items from the caravan.
It will also serve as a gathering and reporting venue for those operating outside the venue.
Members will also keep a watchful eye on vulnerable students and monitor Plett Rage taxi compliance to name but a few.
To bolster safety even further there will also be civilian patrols, private and event security at the venues, Red Frogs assistance to vulnerable students, Medlife ambulance services for medical emergencies and the NSRI for beach-related emergencies.
Read previous articles:
- Huge security plans for Plett Rage
- Plett Rage countdown begins
- Where will Plett Rage be happening?
- Plett Rage on beach "could be disastrous'
- Plett Rage student festival in hot spot
- More cases against Rage 'fraudster'
ARTICLE: YOLANDÉ STANDER, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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