Nineteen beaches around the country are set to benefit from a massive clean-up of South Africa’s coastline during the festive season, Vodacom announced on Monday.
Beaches in the Eastern and Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal will benefit from the third annual Vodacom Beach Clean-Up Campaign, which will run over 23 days, starting on December 15.
Vodacom executive head of corporate communications, Palesa Chabula, said: ”This would ensure a spotless and safe playground for the thousands of holidaymakers who will flock to the coast over the festive season. The clean-ups will provide work for 209 previously unemployed individuals at a crucial time of the year as well as.”
She said the campaign would also educate people about the negative impact of littering — how it endangers aquatic wildlife as well as human life, and encourage them to take measures to reduce or prevent litter all-year round.
Chabula said during the 2006/07 campaign, 43 914 bags of marine litter had been cleared from the beaches.
The sweep of the beaches will take place from 8am to 5pm daily.
In KwaZulu-Natal, Margate beach, Scottburgh beach, Amanzimtoti beach, the Umgeni River Mouth, Umdloti beach and the Westbrook beach are on the clean-up list.
In the Eastern Cape, Hartenbos beach, Santos beach, De Bakke beach, Vleesbaai, Boggoms Baai, Plettenberg Bay, Orient Beach, Jeffrey’s Bay and Well’s Estate would also be tidied up.
In the Western Cape, Camps Bay, Clifton’s third and fourth beach, Muizenberg, Hout Bay, Strand and Mnandi will be included in the clean-up. — Sapa