| Media Statement Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism TUESDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2007: The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) has today (Tuesday, 30 October 2007) awarded Blue Flag status to 21 beaches at the annual Blue Flag ceremony held at Wells Estate, north of Port Elizabeth. A Blue Flag is an international annual award given to beaches that meet excellence in the areas of safety, amenities, cleanliness and environmental standards. The South African beaches that received Blue Flag status are: - Bronze beach, Umhlanga
- Umhlanga Rocks Main beach
- North beach, Durban
- Bay of Plenty, Durban
- Westbrook beach, north of Durban
- Addington beach, Durban
- Margate beach
- Ramsgate main beach
- Marina beach, Southbroom
- Kelly's beach, Port Alfred
- Wells Estate, Port Elizabeth
- Humewood beach, Port Elizabeth
- King's beach, Port Elizabeth
- Dolphin beach, Jeffrey's Bay
- Lappiesbaai beach, Stilbaai
- Grotto beach, Hermanus
- Kleinmond beach, near Hermanus
- Hawston beach, near Hermanus
- Bikini beach, Gordon's Bay
- Mnandi Beach, Strandfontein Cape Town
- Clifton 4th beach, Cape Town
Positive news for the Blue Flag programme is that there are currently 21 pilot beaches embarking on plans to achieve full status accreditation in 2008-9. The growth in the number of Blue Flag beaches augurs well for the future and especially for visitors coming to South Africa for the Soccer World Cup in 2010. 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. Despite significant damages to many of the Blue Flag beaches as a result of the high seas and stormy conditions over the past few months, South African beaches continue to achieve world-class standards and an ever-increasing number of beaches are now flying the international eco-label, the Blue Flag. Those Blue Flag beaches that were damaged are all gearing up for the new season of Blue Flag. Blue Flag is an international annual award given to beaches that meet excellence in the areas of safety, amenities, cleanliness, environmental information and environmental management. The Blue Flag programme is currently run in almost 40 countries globally and interest in the programme continues to grow. There are now almost 3,500 Blue Flag beaches and marinas around the world. In South Africa, the programme is run by WESSA on behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). In partnership with participating local authorities, Blue Flag helps to contribute to the aims of the White Paper on Sustainable Coastal Development. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OR OR |
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