WESSA Annual Report 2023 - 2024 DP

Sites recongnised for their continued commitment to maintaining Blue Flag status include:

10 years of continuous Blue Flag recognition

15 years of continuous Blue Flag recognition

Gouritsmond Beach, Hessequa Municipality

Camps Bay Beach, City of Cape Town

These milestones highlight the commitment of these municipalities to uphold the highest standards of environmental management and public safety, year after year.

Public engagement and strategic initiatives

Furthermore, the WESSA Blue Flag Programme aims to increase public understanding of Blue Flag standards and their role in environmental protection. Consequently, there has been a rise in public awareness and expectations of the high standards that Blue Flag represents. This awareness has led to increased public scrutiny, especially around water quality testing. In response, WESSA will be piloting enhanced water quality testing protocols and stricter public reporting requirements for the 2024/25 season to reinforce public trust and ensure the integrity of the Blue Flag certification. In addition, WESSA has partnered with the National Council of and for Disabilities to evaluate all Blue Flag sites for accessibility, ensuring that beaches are inclusive and welcoming

to all. Disabled access is often thought of as providing access for persons in wheelchairs. We are working towards enhancing this concept to that of Universal Access, where facilities incorporate the needs of blind persons, those on crutches, baby pram access, and the elderly or frail, who may need support railings. Adopting this model of improved access will enrich the value of Blue Flag beaches, marinas, and tourism boasts and give further effect to the aims of the Integrated Coastal Management Act which seeks to promote access to our coastal resources. We commend Dolphin Beach in Jeffrey’s Bay for its outstanding efforts in creating accessible facilities for disabled individuals, including access ramps, a wheelchair-friendly viewing deck, and accessible restrooms.

Beach mat at Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town, creating easy access for wheelchairs and people with walking aids

#We Are OneWESSA

WESSA ANNUAL REPORT 2023 – 2024

23