Eight Blue Flags for Plett Eight Blue Flags for Plett p4

Blue Flags abound in and around the bay as Plett retains its eight-strong status

Plettenberg Bay is bathed in blue once more after dominating this year’s national Blue Flag awards, with six of the coastal holiday town’s beaches receiving this esteemed stamp of approval last week - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports

ONCE again Pletten- this year include for the with this approval last year. berg Bay not only 12th consecutive time Rob- Thesen Islands, however, boasts the second-most berg 5; for a 10th time received two Blue Flags in Blue Flag beaches in the Keurboomstrand, for the the marina category. Western Cape, but also ninth year Nature’s Valley; The only other Garden scaled the podium’s second for a seventh time Lookout Route town that managed step when tallying the to- Beach; for a fi fth year The to obtain Blue Flag status tals countrywide. Dunes, and Singing Kettle for some of its beaches was The town went head-to- Beach for a fourth consec- Mossel Bay, which now has head with some of South utive year. fi ve Blue Flag beaches. Africa’s biggest coastal ar- Local operator Offshore • The Blue Flag is a certieas and was only edged out Adventures added to the fi cation by the Foundation of the lead by major city awards after both their ves- for Environmental Educacentre Cape Town, which sels, Robberg Express and tion (FEE), declaring that managed to secure 10 sites. Oceanic Express, received a beach, marina, or susBitou tied for second with Blue Flag accreditation. tainable boating tourism Hessequa, which also re- This comes after Pletten- operator meet its standceived six Blue Flag awards. berg Bay, after its 11th ards. The Blue Flag tradePlett also outshone other nomination, won a World mark is owned by FEE, major coastal centres includ- Travel Awards title as Af- which is a not-for-profi t ing Nelson Mandela Bay, rica’s leading beach desti- non-governmental organiwhich only managed three nation last month. sation consisting of 65 orBlue Flag sites and Kwazu- This year none of Knys- ganisations in 60 member BEST OF THE BLUES: Robberg 5 Beach is the stalwart of Plett’s Blue Flag recipients, 2020 being the 12th consecutive year for it to receive this coveted international stamp of approval lu-Natal’s Ray Nkonyeni, which received fi ve awards. na’s beaches received Blue Flag status; Brenton-oncountries. For additional information, visit www. Photo: Yolandé Stander Plett’s Blue Flag beaches Sea was the only beach bluefl ag.global.

Bitou mayor and senior municipal offi cials quick to visit victims of Qolweni fi re

ON the afternoon of cording to the statement, affected area - addressed eral of the families. idents temporarily housed ed to affected scholars by Monday November which claimed that details the victims of the fi re at A plan also outlined how in the TRA will have to be the municipality. 30, Bitou Municipality re- pertaining to the cause of 8:30am on Monday. Sen- Bitou Municipality would benefi ciaries of the Qol- The statement concluded leased a statement to an- the blaze were not clear at ior offi cials from various assist affected residents in weni 169 project.” that the community memnounce that, around 2:45am that stage. “It is alleged, departments were also pre- the interim. The mayor promised to bers were very pleased that morning, a fi re was re- however, that it could have sent at the meeting. “Some fi re victims will engage the Home Affairs with the prompt intervenported to have razed a sec- been an accident.” Material to rebuild some be accommodated in the department to deal with tion of the mayor and his tion of Qolweni, leaving 24 Bitou mayor Peter of the shacks was said to temporary relocation area the loss of identity docu- team of offi cials. shacks burnt to the ground. Lobese, accompanied by be available and would be (TRA) on Minaar Land ments and birth certifi - • Visit the gallery at www.

“About 33 families were councillor Xola Matyila - issued with immediate ef- to avoid placing families in cates, and said that school cxpress.co.za to view more affected by the fi re,” ac- the ward councillor for the fect to accommodate sev- halls due to Covid-19. Res- uniforms would be provid- images of the devastation.

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