Gonubie beach regained its Blue Flag status
By Tabisa Mntengwana
09 November 2009
THE City has regained its Blue Flag status at the Gonubie beach, just in time for the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup.
The City lost its Blue Flag status after a series of massive waves hit East London beaches last year leaving the coast and roads covered in debris.
“Following our disappointment when we lost the status in the last two years, a lot of effort and work was concentrated in implementing a vigorous plan that was aimed at ensuring that Gonubie Beach takes its rightful place amongst the prestige beaches of this country,” reads a press statement issued by the City.
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 municipality, during this time, adhered to the rules of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) including rectifying a small, yet costly mistake of meeting water tests deadlines in laboratories.
“Even though the City’s beaches have always been popular to local and international visitors despite the absence of the Blue Flag status, we are optimistic that this will add value to those tourists who have not visited us yet,” said municipal spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya.
A press statement issued by the municipality reads, ”As we move towards the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the timing of the attainment of the Blue Flag status could not have been better in boosting our plans of becoming a Team Base Camp and Training Venue for the soccer show piece next year.”
Speaking at the launch, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said the increase of Blue Flag beaches from 19 October last year to 29 October this year was extremely good for tourism in South Africa.
“In order for South Africa to optimise its tourism potential, it is critical that we offer both domestic and international visitors clean, safe and well-managed beaches,” he said.
Alison Kelly, WESSA’s Blue Flag programme manager said, “The success of the Blue Flag programme in South Africa can be attributed to the commitment of participating municipalities to provide beach goers and holiday-makers with world class beaches offering safe, clean and well-managed facilities.
“At a time in our country when there is great concern about service delivery at local authority level, these municipalities managing the Blue Flag beaches are showing that high levels of excellence and delivery of services to benefit both local and international visitors are possible.”
According to a press statement, Buffalo City will do its best to ensure that the Blue Flag status becomes a permanent feature on the Gonubie Beach and solidify the Eastern Cape’s efforts to be a people centred and compelling place to live, work, invest and play.
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