The SA Shore Angling Association has been forced to apply for an interdict to use vehicles on the beach during its national championship in East London next week after the government withdrew permission at the last minute.
The SA Shore Angling Association has been forced to apply for an interdict to use vehicles on the beach during its national championship in East London next week after the government withdrew permission at the last minute.
The association filed the application on Wednesday, but will learn on Friday whether they will be given permission.
Vincent Taylor, vice-chairman of the association, told CARtoday.com that they had been granted oral permission to use vehicles on the beach in the competition, despite the 4×4 beach ban, as they had applied for this right well in advance.
But this week the Department of Marine and Coastal management said it had withdrawn permission. The anglers, who went to court on Wednesday, said reasons for the change of mind were not given. The competition takes place from Monday to Friday along the Ciskei coast.
Taylor said the area concerned was a 45 km stretch of beach with only one entry point and it was necessary to use vehicles.
Shaun Schneier, principal environment officer of the marine and coastal management branch of the Department of Environment and Tourism, said he was not sure why permission had been taken away, but said it was probably because the anglers had not followed all the necessary statutory requirements for exemption.
He said the environmental minister has certain power to grant exemptions, but only under certain conditions and if all the statutory requirements have been met.
The anglers would have had to place an advertisement in a newspaper in the area indicating that they were applying for exemption and asking the public for comments. This is necessary as the permission can be given only if the vehicles will not harm the environment and it will not affect the rights of the general public.
“They did place an advertisement in the at the end of January, but it was too vague and general. It did not give the time or name of the event and there was no allowance for comments on the public,” Schneier said. “It was hopelessly inadequate,” he said.
The anglers are still waiting for judgement in their court battle to be exempted from the government’s blanket ban on 4×4 vehicles on beaches. The Port Elizabeth High Court reserved judgement on February 8.