Beach bobbies on the beat

However, Victor Chetty from the Hibiscus coast Municipality protection services in charge of disaster management plans for The Loerie Awards in Margate and surrounds, is adamant that they are not here to spoil anyone's fun.

He and his team have been working since April on a plan to ensure the safety and security of all visitors for a 14-day period before and after Loeries. The plan swung into action last week already.

The debonair Mr Chetty is understanding and believes he "knows what this industry is about" and he and his officers will be tolerant to a point: "We do want people to please respect the laws of the land."

Of course, there are still persistent rumours in the community that The Loerie Awards were chucked out of Sun City and forced to relocate to Margate because of bad behaviour, so if I detect a nervous twitch from time to time when asking if they have ever seen some of our creatives in action, I'm sure it's just my imagination!

Every year over the festive season Margate handles 2 million people over a six week period with up to 60 000 people every 31 December on the beachfront area. This swells to about 120 000 on Margate beach on New Year's day. Margate is a traditional year-end student Christmas break destination of choice.

"We are treating this as a mini-Old Year's with 2500 to 3000 participants and preparing for another 10 000 to 15 000 spectators and well wishers from Margate community and surrounding areas. We are understanding... these are human beings out to unwind and enjoy... but we know that this is a culture that believes in unwinding in various ways and we will accommodate them," he said diplomatically.

Additional staff have been deployed on the ground by protection and "beach bobbies" in blue uniforms will be easily identifiable on patrol - all in addition to a South African police presence as well. Emergency services will also be on standby.

The whole Margate beachfront area will be cordoned off to traffic for the Loerie weekend to accommodate all the events planned around Loeries and the after parties.

"I believe the Hibiscus Coast is the heartbeat of Kwazulu Natal and we await the advertising community with enthusiasm. My intent is to market our services and assure the industry that they will leave here after The Loerie Awards with good memories."