The Blue Flag Beach winners have been announced for the 2023/2024 Summer and this year 48 beaches have qualified for the honour and title.
South Africa (23 October 2023) – As warmer weather and swim season approaches, WESSA celebrated South Africa’s pristine coastal destinations with the coveted Blue Flag status awards on the 20th of October, solidifying its position as a premier coastal destination.
This year there are only 48 beaches on the Blue Flag list and 23 pilot sites recognised this year for their efforts in meeting the minimum requirements for Blue Flag status.
The Blue Flag programme has been locally managed by WESSA since 2001 in partnership with the global Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and participating coastal municipalities.
The awards serve as a benchmark for sustainable tourism where qualifying criteria for Blue Flag and Green Coast status involve a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria which must be met and maintained. By meeting these rigorous standards in water quality, environmental management, safety, and education, Blue Flag beaches, green coastlines and marinas inspire visitors to become responsible global citizens.
WESSA CEO, Helena Atkinson acknowledged and commended the exceptional efforts made by local authorities, communities and volunteers in achieving excellent world-class standards this season.
“It takes great dedication and effort to manage a beach or marina to meet the rigorous standards set out for this prestigious award, and we extend our warmest congratulations to all the deserving sites that have achieved the eco labels,” she said adding that achieving Blue Flag or Green Coast eco-label was not just a status symbol but an indication of collective effort, commitment and compliance.
“By providing ongoing education programmes and training, we are able to provide citizens the key information about beach quality management at Blue Flag or Green Coast sites. It is also a way to recognise the hard work done by municipalities in providing safe natural spaces and preserving our natural resources for future generations,” she said.
Primarily, Blue Flag is an educational programme designed to encourage participating municipalities to meet high environmental and international sustainability standards.
Following a national audit of beaches submitted for assessment by each local municipality, WESSA used 33 criteria to determine if each beach meets the level of service excellence required for Blue Flag recognition. Each beach is measured in four categories: Environmental Education and Awareness, Water Quality, Environmental Management, and Safety Services.
The individual criteria allow for an in-depth analysis of a variety of areas of competence, which include:
- Universal access (for the disabled, elderly and mothers with young children)
- Control of domestic animals (such as dogs on beaches)
- Availability of interpretive signage
- Effective waste management
The quality international standards which have been achieved at these beaches are critical drivers, which encourage the economic growth of the coastal areas. Residents and tourists can access a variety of leisure activities at these beaches.
Here’s the list of beaches you can visit in the relevant provinces in SA:
Full Status
Eastern Cape
- Cape St Francis – Kouga (New)
- Dolphin – Kouga
- Kings – Nelson Mandela Bay
- Humewood – Nelson Mandela Bay
- Hobie – Nelson Mandela Bay
- Kariega – Ndlambe
- Kelly’s – Ndlambe
- Middle Kenton on Sea – Ndlambe (New)
KwaZulu-Natal
- Marina – Ray Nkonyeni
- Trafalgar – Ray Nkonyeni
- Southport – Ray Nkonyeni
- Umzumbe – Ray Nkonyeni
- Hibberdene – Ray Nkonyeni
Western Cape
- Silwerstroomstrand – City of Cape Town
- Clifton 4th – City of Cape Town
- Camps Bay – City of Cape Town
- Llandudno – City of Cape Town
- Muizenberg – City of Cape Town
- Bikini – City of Cape Town
- Melkbosstrand – City of Cape Town
- Fish Hoek – City of Cape Town
- Kleinmond – Overstrand
- Hawston – Overstrand
- Grotto – Overstrand
- Castle beach – Overstrand
- Struisbaai – Cape Agulhas
- Witsand – Hessequa
- Preekstoel – Hessequa
- Lappiesbaai – Hessequa
- Jongensfontein – Hessequa
- Gouritzmond – Hessequa
- Stilbaai Wes – Hessequa
- De Bakke – Mossel Bay
- Hartenbos – Mossel Bay
- Klein Brak – Mossel Bay
- Santos – Mossel Bay
- Glentana – Mossel Bay
- Herold’s Bay – George
- Victoria Bay – George (New)
- Wilderness – George
- Brenton-on-Sea – Knysna
- Buffalo Bay – Knysna
- Robberg 5 – Bitou
- The Waves – Keurboomstrand – Bitou
- Nature’s Valley – Bitou
- Lookout – Bitou
- The Dunes – Bitou
- Singing Kettle – Bitou
Pilot Status
Eastern Cape
- Marina Martinique – Marina Martinique
- Blue Water Bay – Nelson Mandela Bay
- Wells Estate – Nelson Mandela Bay
- Birah – Ngqushwa
- Hamburg – Ngqushwa
- Mzamba – Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (Formally Mbizana)
KwaZulu-Natal
- Pennington – Umdoni
- Rocky Bay – Umdoni
- Preston – Umdoni
- Umthwalume – Umdoni
- Scottsburgh – Umdoni
- St Michaels – Ray Nkonyeni
- Ramsgate – Ray Nkonyeni
- Thompson’s Bay – Kwadukuza
- Willard – Kwadukuza
- Blythdale – Kwadukuza
- Salt Rock – Kwadukuza
Western Cape
- Strandfontein – City of Cape Town
- Mnandi – City of Cape Town
- Onrus – Overstand
- Tweekuilen – Mossel Bay
- Suiderkruis – Mossel Bay
- Leentjiesklipwilderness – George
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