Residents, businesses and visitors around the East London beachfront were left fuming after hundreds of youths bombarded the area on Saturday evening, leaving a trail of chaos.
Police confirmed they had received a complaint of public drinking, while irate business owners relayed the chaos that had ensued.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said: “Police can confirm that they received a complaint of public drinking and loud noise at Quigney yesterday (Saturday evening).
“Immediately, a police patrol vehicle was dispatched to the scene, and on arrival there was no public drinking even though there were drunk people.”
Members of the Dispatch team who were in the area witnessed the youths swarm across the bottom of the beachfront in large numbers.
On Sunday morning, metro cleaners had their hands full clearing up the booze bottles.
The Dispatch understands the gathering was a planned “pens down” meet-up to celebrate the end of the school term on Friday.
A police officer said the night shift team had their hands full trying to manage the mob of youths that only started leaving at about 6am on Sunday.
A manager of a food outlet in the area said they had to close their business earlier than usual as they had struggled to serve their customers because of the mob.
“We had to close down early because we could not control them.
“Parents should be aware and responsible for their children. Those teens were not supposed to be drinking.
“Why do these underaged teens feel they can drink publicly without any repercussions?
He said on Sunday morning their cleaning staff had to clean up their premises.
SQ Risk SA security site leader Nontobeko Kadeni said: “They were rebellious teens who did not want to take instruction and had poor self-conduct when they were outside the local Spar.
“We did not anticipate that it would be busy, but they were coming in and out in numbers and we saw them drinking outside the premises.”
Resident Zikhona Mfakadolo said: “I had just come back from work and passed by one of the food outlets to buy a meal. I was greeted by hundreds of teens carrying and drinking alcohol.
“When I questioned them they did not bother to respond, while others were already drunk.
“This incident is not far from the Enyobeni tavern tragedy and how are they able to buy alcohol at such an age?
“I am concerned about where they go and how they get home when they are drunk.”
She said parents were going around Quigney desperately searching for their children after word spread about what was happening.
“I do not know how can this be stopped. It is concerning.”
Nomtha Gawula of Bhisho, who had visited one of the beachfront hotels, was alarmed by teens who caused chaos on the roads.
“When I visited the bottle store, there was a queue to get in.
“I was approached by teens who could not enter because they are underage and wanted me to buy them alcohol. I was shocked and refused.
“But that did not stop them. Adults outside the shop were being given money by these teens to buy on their behalf.
“You could see they were determined to drink more, as they carried plastic glasses and cool drink mixes.
“When I tried to reprimand them, they kept on saying ‘Do not judge us, as you do not even know us”.
“I was trying to help. It seems like they learnt nothing from the Enyobeni tragedy.”
Last month, the Dispatch reported on similar scenes that unfolded at a sports festival hosted by Grens High School in Baysville.
Principals from Cambridge High, Hudson Park High, Beaconhurst High, Clarendon High School for Girls, Stirling High, Grens Hoërskoel, Port Rex Technical High and Selborne College issued a joint statement afterwards calling on parents to step up to ensure their children were safe.
“Our appeal is for parents to become more aware of where their children are, who their friends are, who they are staying over with and where they are once the sports matches are over.
“As principals and educators, we can only take responsibility for the children while they are on our premises.”
Eastern Cape Liquor Board spokesperson Mgwebi Msiya condemned the latest incident.
The board has been on an aggressive awareness campaign including an “anti-pens-down” one since the Enyobeni tragedy last June.
The underage drinking followed a recent incident that took place on Saturday evening at the beachfront in Quigney that they were not aware of.
“We strongly condemn any form of underage drinking and do urge parents to be very vigilant in monitoring the movements of their children.
“We also believe that the scourge of underage drinking in our communities calls for a collective effort among members of society, including parents.
“The best way to deal with this social problem is for parents at the level of families to take responsibility by closely monitoring their children.
“Parents must also look into the amount of pocket money they give their children.
“In some instances parents give their children excessive pocket money, making it easy for them to purchase alcohol.”
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