PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Following President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of the beach ban last week, Plett residents last weekend donned their beachwear anyway, took their towels and umbrellas and settled down for a day in... the street.

The gathering, stretching from the Total garage up Odlands Drive, was staged in protest against the beach ban because that and other recent Covid-related cancellations and alterations were estimated by experts to contribute to an economic loss of about R200-million.

One of the organisers of the demonstration, Jacqui de Villiers, said Plettenberg Bay survives on tourism and it is the main industry and job provider for the Bitou community.

"A few weeks ago, Plettenberg Bay was awarded the best Blue Flag beach status in the country and one of the best in the world. We were recognised as the Leading Beach Destination in Africa by the international World Travel Awards. The beaches are the main drawcard for our tourism-based economy. The beach is an outdoor, spacious public area. People from elsewhere work hard all year to reward themselves with this experience. We depend on this to feed ourselves," De Villiers said.

She stated that these consequences impact them on a great scale. "Every sector of the community is affected. We are inducing poverty and increasing crime. Desperate people resort to desperate measures. The beaches belong to everybody - no matter what race, creed or nationality. They are a common denominator for all of us and represent freedom."

Tourism dependent

De Villiers also said there is a perception that Plett is a wealthy area because there are huge, lavish holiday homes. "But those visitors only come here on holiday. The permanent residents here are not wealthy. They are grassroots, working-class people and all the jobs and businesses here depend on tourists and visitors who come to our beaches. Retail centres, shopping malls, casinos, hotels and resorts are all in full operation. Does this make sense? Spacious, outdoor areas in the height of summer provide a small risk for the amount of economic and socio-welfare impact on the whole Bitou community."

De Villiers said people had come out to demonstrate in support of one another. "We are showing we are a responsible community, united in solidarity for the reopening of our beaches so that we can save our local economy."

R200m loss

Plett Tourism acting chief executive Patty Butterworth said the negative impact of the beach ban had already started. "Accommodation cancellations have been confirmed and more cancellations will undoubtedly follow, causing further damage to a local economy already battered by the loss of approximately R48-million, due to the cancellation of the Plett Rage, compounding the overall loss to an estimated well over R200-million in Plettenberg Bay alone," Butterworth said. "Such a loss on top of massive business closures is unsustainable in our small economy, which has been counting on a successful year-end season to commence the recovery process from the initial lockdown."

She added that the South African government had made an "uninformed decision", without properly consulting local stakeholders, with the result being massive, unintended losses to the business sector.

"In fact, official statistics reveal that the areas where the beaches are located are actually on a downward trajectory in the number of Covid-19 positive cases as local authorities have taken the matter firmly in hand and are being successful in tackling the second wave of infections."

She said Durban, which would only see its beaches closed on traditionally busy days, has 200km of beach, with its centrally located beaches, adjacent to the big city, being inherently overcrowded. "Plettenberg Bay has 20km of widely spread, unspoilt beach. If Durban beaches can remain open, common sense would suggest that a small beach town would be less of a threat and should stay open. Durban tourism statistics for 2019 show that more than 314 000 tourists arrived in December. Plettenberg Bay welcomes about 35 000 tourists."

Plettenberg Bay residents and visitors actively protesting against the beach ban. 

Plettenberg Bay residents fighting for the town's beaches to be reopened, from left: Inamarie Greyson, Nikay Greyson, Mieke van Heerden and Lane de Meyer. 

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