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Count down to 2019 celebrations

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A wave of New Year’s celebrations is expected for billions of people around the world. The party atmosphere will sweep across major cities in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas — as the clock ticks past midnight.

Hong Kong will celebrate with a glittering fireworks display — while hundreds of couples will tie the knot in a free mass wedding in Jakarta.

Japanese will flock to temples in Tokyo — while in Moscow, concerts and light shows will be held across the city’s parks.

Sydney in Australia has already marked the arrival of 2019 with its biggest ever fireworks display in the world famour harbour area.

Count down to 2019 celebrations in KZN 

KwaZulu-Natal police say they are on high alert ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations in the city.

Events, which are expected to attract thousands of party goers, are scheduled at various venues around Durban. They include the beachfront and the people’s park at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The SAPS and Metro Police have increased deployments around the city, especially the Durban beachfront to ensure safety.

While some Durban residents and tourists in the city are planning a quiet New Year’s Eve celebration at home this evening, others are expecting to bring in 2019 with a bang.

Massive parties have been planned at venues around the city.

The Moses Mabhida Stadium will host “Fact Durban Rocks.” Shongweni is set for their outside Music Festival and night clubs around the city are primed to draw in large crowds.

While the city is geared for a night of celebrations, police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele says they are prepared to deal with unruly party goers. Police have increased deployment at various hotspots, especially the Durban beachfront.

She adds that it is also the responsibility of event organisers to ensure that security is beefed up on Monday evening.

“We have a maximum deployment. You will remember, there are new constables that are coming from the college that we also deployed in the Durban area as well as the whole KwaZulu-Natal.”

“We, as the police, we are going to make sure that the holidays are safe. But as much as we can say that we are going to be visible, we also want to urge them to be very vigilant.”

Mbhele says drinking and driving, drug possession as well as drowning has been some of their biggest challenges thus far this festive season.

“You cannot drink and drive and the motorists, they know that. If you are caught driving whilst you are drinking, the police will arrest you. We advise the people that are drinking not to go into the pool or into the sea.”

Nelson Mandela Bay starts the countdown to 2019

New Year’s festivities are in full swing in Nelson Mandela Bay as the countdown to 2019 starts. The beachfront is the place to be in the Friendly City – and people are making their way there. SABC News’s Kim Daniels reports…

A last minute rush for fireworks in Johannesburg was somewhat thwarted by metro authorities. Several non-compliant stores in the CBD were raided and stack of fireworks confiscated.

President Cyril Ramaphosa wishes the nation well for the New Year 2019

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