Litter bugs lambasted

THE City of Cape Town has responded to a "larger than normal number of complaints" from tourists and residents about the "unfavourable" condition of Cape Town's Atlantic beaches by blaming "natural phenomena and human behaviour". "Extremely" high tides washed up huge quantities of stinking, slippery seaweed and damaged litter bins, explained Mike Marsden, executive director Municipal Services in Cape Town while adding that recent international-standard bacteriological studies by the Cape Metropolitan Council of the beaches had nevertheless concluded "extremely favourably". "They assessed the relative safety of water used for bathing and from a health perspective they showed the seas off Cape Town to be generally safe," he said. Despite the council Cleansing Branch's mobilising of a special task team to clear seaweed and rubbish last year, vandals and litter bugs have been blamed for the rubbish strewn across many False Bay and Peninsula beaches. Bins will be replaced, he assured beach-goers, and extra ones erected. "It is imperative the seafront is kept clean and safe at all times for the safety of all," he said. He has promised: * intensified cleansing * special patrols to stamp out anti-social nuisances * a continued blanket ban on all alcohol and * the prosecution of all litter bugs caught. However, he pleaded for communities and visitors to help by reporting such illegal behaviour to officials. on a special designated hotline - 0801-227788. (Simon Farrell)