19 October 2000
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mohammed Valli Moosa will launch the coastal hike of South Africa (from Kosi Bay on the Indian Ocean to the mouth of the Orange River on the Atlantic coast) with the three hikers on National Marine Day tomorrow (Friday 20 October).
The Minister is launching the 3300-km hike by Derek Brown, Robbie Dyer and Raymond Ngubane of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa as the closing event of Marine Week run annually by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
“This walk is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the beauty of our coastline while underscoring the important role it plays in the livelihoods of coastal communities and our economy,” Moosa said.
The walkers will over a seven-month period promote coastal awareness through public participation and media coverage. They will visit some of the R14-million CoastCare projects that were launched this week by the Minister as well as the pilot blue flag beach projects at Sodwana, Ballito, Durban (South Beach), Margate (Main Beach), East London (Orient), Port Alfred (Kelly's), Port Elizabeth (Humewood), Jeffreys Bay (Main), Plettenberg Bay (Lookout), Hermanus, South Peninsula (Fish Hoek & Muizenberg) and Cape Town (Strandfontein, Camps Bay, Sea Point).
The CoastCare projects were launched this week as part of government’s commitment to clean up the environmentally sensitive coastline and the Blue Flag projects, an international campaign that establishes standards of service for beaches, will be rolled out over the next months. Attached are the details of these two programmes along our coastline.
If you would like to contact the walkers or watch their progress, see the WESSA website interactive page that will be on www.wildlifesociety.org.za (special projects) or contact Alison Kelly on (033) 330 3931 (phone) or 330 4576 9 (fax) or 082 337 1273. The programme for the walk is also attached so that you can cover this event in your area.
Issued by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
For More Information Please Contact
The Media Liaison Director: Onkgopotse J.J Tabane:
082 465 6166/ 021 465 7240