Over 24,000 officers to be deployed as KZN eyes R13bn for busy holiday period
KwaZulu-Natal is preparing for a bustling festive season, with over two million visitors expected and R13 billion in economic activity.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Media
KwaZulu-Natal is preparing for a bustling festive season, with over two million visitors expected and R13 billion in economic activity.
This is according to Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, who revealed this during the launch of the province’s safety month and festive season safety plan in Durban on Thursday. He emphasised that safe communities, secure roads, are key to ensuring a prosperous festive period.
“We cannot build a thriving tourism sector or sustain inclusive growth without ensuring that our communities, visitors, and roads are safe,” Ntuli said.
Ntuli also added that while the festive season brings joyful moments, criminals also take the opportunity to exploit crowded areas and busy roads, adding that as a result, the province will be deploying more than 24,500 law enforcement and emergency personnel to maintain safety.
He said that "these teams will be strategically positioned at ports of entry, beaches, shopping centres, events, and major roads, ensuring visibility, rapid response, and safety throughout KwaZulu-Natal".
"The strength of our readiness lies not in numbers alone, but in the spirit of collaboration that binds government, law enforcement, and communities together,”.
He stressed that Durban remains the province’s flagship tourism destination, but the government was also focused on expanding tourism to secondary cities such as Richards Bay, Port Shepstone, Newcastle, and Howick.
“When residents and visitors feel safe, they stay longer, spend more, and invest deeper in our communities. Safety is an economic imperative.
“Let this festive season be remembered not for tragedy, but for discipline, cooperation, and success.“Together, we can make this a season of safety, dignity, and growth for all the people of KwaZulu-Natal.”
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