The South African Shore Angling Association that went to court last week to challenge the regulations banning the use of off-road vehicles on beaches will have to wait two more weeks to find out if they were successful. They can, however, use 4x4s on the beach during their National Masters Competition at Jeffrey’s Bay.
The South African Shore Angling Association that went to court last week to challenge the regulations banning the use of off-road vehicles on beaches will have to wait two more weeks to find out if they were successful.
Their application has been postponed until February 7 in the Port Elizabeth High Court. The court has, however, given permission for vehicles to be driven on the beach during the association’s National Masters Competition on January 31.
The SASAA and the Oyster Bay Ratepayers Association applied to have the regulations declared unlawful, unconstitutional and null and void last week. The Oyster Bay residents said it was challenging the ban because many of its residents were retired and due to age and physical disabilities could not walk the 6 km distance down to the beach. The anglers said their sport would die due to the ban.
Coastal communities have warned that the environmental minister Valli Moosa’s ban could hurt tourism in South Africa. KwaZulu Wildlife is applying for concessions to have special recreational areas for vehicles on beaches. “We see it as a source of revenue which is sorely needed because of the ever diminishing grant from government,” said KZN Wildlife spokesman Jeff Gaisford.
Gaisford said they were still an arm of government and could not take legal action against the minister, but were discussing ways of softening the blow of the ban.
“We have already had reservations cancellations totalling R90 000 at one of our beach camps since the ban was announced. The camp manager at another has submitted a budget which provides for a loss of R2 million in revenue from visitors who will cancel because they are not allowed to take their vehicles on the beach,” he said.