Sunday's sweltering heat brought capacity crowds to Victoria Bay. With them, came some unruly people who littered the beach, acted in an antisocial manner and indulged in binge drinking - much to the annoyance of ordinary, beach-loving citizens.

This week, George business man Gerhard Kruger, called for action from the local authorities by saying, "As a property owner at Victoria Bay and therefore a taxpayer, I am, to say the least, revolted by the conduct of some of the beach goers at Victoria Bay over the last few weeks. I had to stop motorcyclists - who had gained illegal access via the restaurant - from speeding up and down the waterfront this Sunday afternoon. They were very aggressive and smelled of alcohol. I do not care what answer the authorities might dish up on this one, but this is a threat to me and my family.

"Would our councillors accept this kind of behaviour where they live? Or have the values that we as a society once held dear, plummeted so low in South Africa?"

In a letter, the angered Kruger said "I suggest we request a meeting with the council where all the home owners are present, and demand action from them. A solution to this mutual problem must be found."

Victoria Bay resident, Rod Hossack, who is a self-appointed beach cleaner and campaigner for keeping the bay safe and clean, said this week he was startled to see a team of 50 cleaners arrive on Monday, after he had complained to the municipality about finding litter everywhere, a sewage spill, and even condoms in the ablutions blocks.

Hossack described it as yet another horrific weekend, giving an indication as to what had gone wrong: "Fires and drunken behaviour until late on both nights, broken bottles, people defecating on the beach and Milkwood trees in the far corner broken and ripped. The area around the Cafe is in a most unhygienic state."

On Sunday, an inebriated man was taken into custody, after a woman had lodged a complaint with one of the George Municipality's law enforcement officers. The woman, who did not wish to be identified, said she had noticed the group's clandestine drinking, soon after she had prevented a small child from drowning, and then returned the child to its family. The incident attracted the attention of a reporter of the George Herald who noticed the same group on the beach, where a woman was seen dispensing drinks from a liquor bottle.

George Municipality's Richard von Wiellich said that the security aspects of the caravan park fell under the jurisdiction of Eden District Municipality and he felt that the local police should increase their vigilance. It has been understood that during the peak season, Eden District Muncipality maintained a full-time security presence, but now that the holidays are over, it is apparently too costly maintain.

By Pauline Lourens