Eighteen South African beaches have been awarded
international Blue Flag status for excelling in safety, cleanliness, the
provision of amenities and setting and maintaining environmental standards.
Blue Flag gives local and foreign visitors the knowledge that their
beaches are clean, environmentally sound and adhere to international safety
and other tourist standards.
When South Africa joined the campaign in 2001 as
the first country outside Europe to participate, Blue Flag began to grow
into a truly international campaign.
The Blue Flag is given to beaches that meet 14
criteria spanning three aspects of coastal management: water quality,
environmental education and information, and safety and services, which
include excellent life-saving standards, top-rate parking and sparkling
ablution facilities.
Local authorities report a number of spin-offs from
being awarded Blue Flag status, including an increase in visitors, improved
behaviour on the part of beach-goers, property prices rising for homes near
Blue Flag beaches - and visitors enjoying a well cared-for and managed
beach.
South Africa's
Blue Flag beaches 2007:
EASTERN CAPE
Dolphin Beach, Jeffrey's Bay
Humewood Beach, Port Elizabeth
Kelly's Beach, Port Alfred
Kings Beach, Port Elizabeth
Wells Estate, north of Port Elizabeth
KWAZULU-NATAL
Addington Beach, Durban
Hibberdene Beach, south coast
Margate Main Beach, south coast
Marina/San Lameer Beach, south coast
North Beach, Durban
Ramsgate Main Beach, south coast
WESTERN CAPE
Bikini Beach, Gordon's Bay
Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town
Grotto Beach, Hermanus
Hawston Beach, near Hermanus
Kleinmond Beach, near Hermanus
Lappiesbaai Beach, Stilbaai
Mnandi Beach, Strandfontein
According to the Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism, a further 21 SA beaches are piloting the Blue Flag
Programme with the aim of achieving full accreditation in 2008 or 2009.
"The growth in the number of Blue Flag beaches
augurs well for the future, and especially for visitors coming to South
Africa for the World Cup in 2010," the department says.
"Blue Flag beaches along the KwaZulu-Natal
coastline, with their warm Indian Ocean waters and 365-day-a-year swimming
conditions, will be ideal places for soccer fans to chill out and relax."
The Blue Flag is awarded for one year only. Twenty
South African beaches were awarded Blue Flag status in 2006, 20 in 2005, 14
in 2004, eight in 2003, eight in 2002, and four in 2001.
SA's Blue Flag
beaches 2001-2006:
EASTERN CAPE
Dolphin Beach, Jeffrey's Bay (2004-2006)
Gonubie Beach, East London (2005)
Humewood Beach, Port Elizabeth (2002-2006)
Kelly's Beach, Port Alfred (2005-2006)
King's Beach, Port Elizabeth (2006)
Wells Estate, north of Port Elizabeth (2004-2006)
KWAZULU-NATAL
Addington Beach, Durban (2005-2006)
Anstey's Beach, Durban (2005-2006)
Bay of Plenty Beach, Durban (2005-2006)
Hibberdene Beach, south coast (2003-2005)
Lucien Beach, south coast (2004-2006)
Margate Main Beach, south coast (2001-2004)
Marina/San Lameer Beach, s coast (2002-2006)
Ramsgate Main Beach, south coast (2002-2006)
South Beach, Durban (2001-2006)
Umhlanga Rocks Main Beach (2003-2006)
Uvongo Beach, south coast (2005)
Willard Beach, Ballito (2001-2002)
WESTERN CAPE
Bikini Beach, Gordon's Bay (2005-2006)
Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town (2004-2006)
Grotto Beach, Hermanus (2002-2006)
Hawston Beach, near Hermanus (2006)
Kleinmond Beach, near Hermanus (2004, 2006)
Lappiesbaai Beach, Stilbaai (2005-2006)
Lookout Beach, Plettenberg Bay (2001-2002)
Mnandi Beach, Strandfontein (2004-2006)
The Blue Flag was born in France in 1985 where the
first French coastal municipalities were awarded the Blue Flag on the basis
of criteria covering sewage treatment and bathing water quality
The concept has grown from there to encompass other
required qualities and there are now over 2 600 Blue Flag beaches and 600
Blue Flag marinas around the world.
Blue Flag is managed in South Africa by the
Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, in partnership with the
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and participating coastal
authorities under the department's Coast Care programme.
Coast Care gives financial and technical help for
coastal development projects aimed mostly at poor communities, and offers
education, training and research services.
