The City has announced that 10 beaches, including Melkbosstrand, have been awarded Blue Flag status and are ready for beach goers this summer.
The “Blue Flag”, an international accreditation, is awarded to beaches that have bathing water of the highest standard, are clean, have adequate ablution facilities and parking, are environmentally sound, are safe to visit, and meet international safety and tourism standards.
Participation is voluntary and the national Department of Tourism funds the Tourism Blue Flag Project, which employs 50 extra people to work on the Blue Flag beaches. Not all beaches in Cape Town have Blue Flag status but this is not a negative reflection on these beaches.
“The Blue Flag status serves merely as a monitoring tool to assist the City in improving and enhancing services and facilities on all public beaches according to international best practice,” said mayoral committee member for community services, Anda Ntsodo.
“The hard work is only just beginning to ensure that these beaches continue to meet the standard associated with this eco-label.We will continue to maintain the already high standards set at all of our beaches.”
Mr Ntsodo said the City was preparing the beaches for the summer season, upgrading facilities, checking water quality, and posting lifeguards, among other things.
“We are preparing for December 1, which is the start of the Blue Flag season. The festive season is usually the busiest when, on average, over one million visitors come to our beaches.”
He urged all beach goers to use the facilities responsibly.
