Beach guards and street ambassadors are making Port Alfred’s tourist spots safer this festive season. Overseen by Multi Security, the initiatives are a project of Sunshine Coast Tourism and the Port Alfred Business Forum, and are supported by a number of local businesses.
While the beach guard initiative has been in place for five months, the street ambassador project has been running for only three months.
“There had been some incidents at the beaches,” said Multi Security’s Fred Cannon, who oversees the beach and CBD personnel. “Since we instituted permanent monitoring, there have been no safety issues.”
The beach guard is based at the beach lookout station, along with (in season) a lifeguard; however, using e-bikes, they patrol as far as Rufane’s Beach, Cannon said. Three guards rotate the beach shift which is from 7am to 5pm.
‘But that’s a bit flexible, depending on the influx,” Cannon said.
The guards are in contact with the Multi Security control room and can radio for backup if there is a problem – Multi Security’s armed response, the police, or both.
“We work closely with the police, the NSRI and Gardmed,” Cannon said.
Security camers at the East Beach and West Beach parking areas are monitored 24/7 by Multi Security’s control room.
In addition to their on-beach security role, the East Beach guards have helped save two lives during the past five months. The first was an inexperienced young surfer who found himself being washed against the rocks next to the pier. The beach guard on duty that day, along with others, helped him to safety.
More recently, Nceba Gaga raised the alarm when three young men got into trouble swimming in the surf zone. While four local young surfers went to the rescue, Gaga alerted the NSRI who were on the scene in minutes.
Cannon said that during the season there would also be a guard stationed at West Beach.
Meanwhile in the CBD, Cannon said, there had been no vehicle break-ins while street ambassador Nceba Dingela was on patrol. The area he covers is bordered by Van der Riet Street (and the riverfront itself), and Campbell Street.
“People can come and enjoy the shops and restaurants here in the CBD without being harassed,” Cannon said.
Businesses contribute a monthly amount to support the street ambassador project.
All the guards are trained and registered with regulatory body PSIRA.
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This article was first published in Talk of the Town, December 11, 2025. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays
