City responds to Clifton Beach incident

27 December 2018

Statement by the City's Executive Director for Safety and Security, Richard
Bosman

The City of Cape Town has noted the ongoing reports circulating about an
incident that occurred on Clifton Fourth Beach on Sunday, 23 December 2018
where beachgoers were apparently instructed to leave the beach by private
security guards.

The City would like to reiterate that public amenities are available to all members
of the public and will continue to work hard to ensure safe and good quality
beaches for all the people of this city and our visitors, as evidenced by the 10 Blue
Flag beaches around the coastline.

We note the statement issued by the company in question, PPA, indicating that
they were operating on the authority of the City of Cape Town. The statement is
inaccurate.

For the record:

 The City of Cape Town has no contract with PPA

 The City has at no stage given any authority to PPA to enforce by-laws. I met
with relevant Area staff this morning to confirm this
 All City beaches are open to all members of the public. While the City is able to
set times of usage at beaches, we do not impose this unless there is a specific
threat to public safety
 We have confirmed with Camps Bay SAPS that no incidents of rape were
reported on Sunday, 23 December 2018 at Clifton Fourth beach
Private security companies have no mandate to enforce municipal by-laws. The
City has acted swiftly to address the conduct of PPA staff once we became aware
of it. Any person who feels that they have been threatened or intimated by PPA
staff on the day in question, or at any other time, can lay a charge with the South
African Police Service. Alternatively, complaints about the conduct of the
company can be directed to the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority.
As in other cities around the country, and indeed the world, beaches are not
immune to criminal activity. The City therefore deploys its resources equitably to
ensure that all the beaches in Cape Town, regardless of whether they are in areas
that were historically advantaged or disadvantaged, are kept as safe as possible.

The City continues to roll out its comprehensive festive season operational plan
that guides the deployment of law enforcement staff, lifeguards and staff from
various other departments within the City to ensure that our beaches are enjoyed
safely by all, within the framework of the law.

End