/ 7 December 2006

SA Cabinet eyes coastal land ownership

Draft legislation aimed at regulating the sale of coastal land has been approved by the Cabinet, and is now set to be published for public comment.

Briefing the media on Thursday, government communications head Themba Maseko said the Cabinet was worried about the proliferation of housing estates along South Africa’s coast that limited public access to the sea.

The briefing follows the Cabinet’s fortnightly meeting on Wednesday, at which the Integrated Coastal Management Bill was discussed.

Maseko said: ”What Cabinet is extremely concerned about is the … mushrooming of [housing] estates in many parts of the country, particularly in the Cape, where certain sections of land are being closed off and sold at a very high price.”

Further details of the Bill will be announced by Environmental Affairs Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Sunday. — Sapa