Ahead of South Africa’s summer, a total of 48 of the country’s beaches have achieved prestigious Blue Flag status, in recognition of their pristine beauty and environmental credentials.
Beaches that have achieved the international have adhered to the Foundation for Environmental Education’s (FEE) strict standards of environmental management. These include water quality, safety, and public environmental education – all of which are assessed by a South African National Jury and a Blue Flag International Jury in Europe.
The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa and V&A Waterfront hosted the Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards on October 28.
In addition to the beaches, four marinas and seven tourism boats were recognised were awarded the eco-label.
In addition, seven sites were awarded Green Coast status – these being community-driven coastal conservation areas of high biodiversity and eco-tourism value that appeal to people seeking adventure and nature-based experiences.
This year’s awards also acknowledged the efforts of 18 pilot beaches, highlighting their progress in striving for Blue Flag status.
A highlight of this year’s awards included the recognition of Pennington Beach from Umdoni Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, which has been newly awarded Blue Flag status.
Additionally, three new pilot beaches have been introduced: Paternoster Beach in Saldanha Municipality on the West Coast, and Kidd’s Beach and Gonubie Beach in Buffalo City Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
For the 2024/25 season, Cape Town’s eight Blue Flag beaches are:
- Silwerstroomstrand
- Clifton 4th
- Camps Bay
- Llandudno
- Muizenberg
- Bikini Beach
- Melkbosstrand
- Fish Hoek
“This recognition highlights our commitment to maintaining safe, clean and accessible coastal spaces. We encourage all beachgoers to enjoy our beaches responsibly and look forward to a successful summer,’ said Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.
The nine Blue Flag beaches in KwaZulu-Natal are:
- Marina Beach
- Trafalgar
- Southport
- Umzumbe
- Ramsgate
- Hibberdene
- Pennington (new)
- Blythdale
- Thompson Bay
“This is a testament to how seriously we view the quality of our beaches, which are one of the region’s biggest tourism attractions and a significant contributor to the local tourism economy,” said Vusumuzi Sibiya, CEO of the South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise in KZN.
The 2024/25 Blue Flag season officially opens on December 1 and runs until January 31 at all accredited beaches.
Click here for the full list of South African Blue Flag beaches for the 2024/25 season.
