Durban Metro cops ready for #BlackFriday traffic frenzy

Durban Metro cops ready for #BlackFriday traffic frenzy

Extra Durban Metro Police officers will be deployed to shopping hubs in eThekwini ahead of Black Friday.


Black-Friday-AFP
BORIS HORVAT / AFP
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, is growing in popularity in South Africa. In America, it is widely regarded as the start of the Christmas shopping season.

Shops, businesses and retailers often slash prices -- creating a frenzy in malls and online shopping websites, as consumers try and cash in on sales.

"We will be monitoring Black Friday events very closely. We have increased our manpower in terms of resources and we will also have a Joint Operation Centre set-up to manage and control crowds," said Metro Police spokesperson, Parboo Sewpersadh.

Listen to Sewpersad's full remarks on our Newswatch podcast channel below:


Roads and areas surrounding a number of larger shopping centres are expected to buzz from Thursday evening, as people begin chasing the sales on offer.

Sewpersad said they will begin carrying out their contingency plans to ensure a safe and successful shopping experience for all from Thursday morning.

"We have requested the malls around the Durban area to link up with their local Metro Police to facilitate a traffic management plan within the mall [parking] area and just outside," continued Sewpersad.

He said any spill-over of traffic onto main roads must be managed accordingly.

Newswatch Podcast graphic 1

Show's Stories