The 2025/26 Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards ceremony, co-hosted by Ndlambe Municipality at the Royal St. Alfred Hotel, celebrated two major milestones — 25 years of Blue Flag in South Africa and 20 years of Ndlambe’s continuous participation, the longest-running partnership in the country.
Ndlambe Mayor Khululwa Ncamiso said the municipality takes pride in maintaining its Blue Flag status year after year, describing it as a symbol of both service delivery and community care. Her remarks echoed the values of WESSA, which has been driving environmental education and stewardship for nearly a century.
Since 2001, WESSA has managed the Blue Flag Programme locally on behalf of the global Foundation for Environmental Education. Supported by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the initiative brings together municipalities, tourism operators, and volunteers to uphold world-class standards in environmental management, safety, and education.
WESSA CEO Cindy-Lee Cloete said the Blue Flag and Green Coast programmes represent a promise of environmental responsibility. This year, five beaches were recognised for long-term excellence — Hibberdene Beach for 10 years; Witsand and Umzumbe Beach for 15 years; and Kelly’s Beach and Lappiesbaai for 20 years each.
“These milestones reflect decades of stewardship and community partnership,” said Mike Denison, WESSA’s Senior Coastal Programme Manager.
For the 2025/26 season, seven tourism vessels earned Blue Flag recognition - including those operated by Marine Dynamics, White Shark Diving Company, and Offshore Adventures - while five marinas achieved full Blue Flag status, among them the Royal Alfred Marina, Thesen Harbour Town, Thesen Islands, the V & A Waterfront, and Club Mykonos Marina.
Ndlambe Municipality’s two-decade record stood out as a model of local leadership. Deputy Director of Community Protection Services, Fanie Fouché, said the programme has generated thousands of seasonal jobs and inspired young people to take action for the environment. “Through floods, storms and shifting tides, our community has kept the Blue Flag flying for 20 years,” he said.
WESSA also celebrated the expansion of its home-grown Green Coast Programme, which recognises natural coastal areas that balance biodiversity with eco-tourism. The network has more than doubled, now featuring 15 certified sites including Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, Nature’s Valley, Walker Bay, Swartvlei Beach, Chintsa Beach, and Kei Mouth.
Dr Deborah Robertson-Andersson, Green Coast implementer at Kei Mouth and Morgan Bay, described the programme’s grassroots impact: “We started as four people walking our coastline during lockdown and today we are over four hundred residents working together. That’s the spirit of Green Coast — citizen science in action.”
The event also highlighted WESSA’s “Stop the Strangle” campaign, which tackles marine pollution and ghost fishing gear. Marine conservationist Dickie Chivell shared harrowing experiences from the field, stressing the importance of small actions like clean-ups and fishing line bins to save marine life.
Representing the DFFE, Ryan Peter, Director of Coastal Development and Coordination, reminded attendees that sustainable coastal management depends on shared effort between national and local partners. “Together we are building the systems, data and partnerships that make South Africa a leader in integrated coastal management,” he said.
In closing, Denison urged ongoing collaboration: “As individuals we may not change the world, but we can make a difference where we live. When we join those smaller footprints together, it becomes an enormous investment in caring for our Earth.
This season, South Africa boasts 70 Blue Flag beaches — 50 with full status and 20 as pilot sites — spanning 16 municipalities nationwide.
Summary by Municipality (2025/26 Blue Flag Beaches):
City of Cape Town — 8 full sites
Overstrand — 2 full, 3 pilot (5 total)
Cape Agulhas — 1 full
Hessequa — 6 full
Mossel Bay — 4 full, 3 pilot (7 total)
Bitou — 6 full
Nelson Mandela Bay — 3 full, 2 pilot (5 total)
Kouga — 2 full
George — 3 full, 1 pilot (4 total)
Ndlambe — 3 full
KwaDukuza — 4 full
Ray Nkonyeni — 7 full, 2 pilot (9 total)
Umdoni — 1 full, 4 pilot (5 total)
Buffalo City Metro — 2 pilot
Mandeni — 2 pilot
Port Nolloth — 1 pilot
Total: 50 Full + 20 Pilot = 70 Blue Flag Beaches (as per official 2025/26 documentation).
Ndlambe Mayor Khululwa Ncamiso said the municipality takes pride in maintaining its Blue Flag status year after year, describing it as a symbol of both service delivery and community care. Her remarks echoed the values of WESSA, which has been driving environmental education and stewardship for nearly a century.
Since 2001, WESSA has managed the Blue Flag Programme locally on behalf of the global Foundation for Environmental Education. Supported by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the initiative brings together municipalities, tourism operators, and volunteers to uphold world-class standards in environmental management, safety, and education.
WESSA CEO Cindy-Lee Cloete said the Blue Flag and Green Coast programmes represent a promise of environmental responsibility. This year, five beaches were recognised for long-term excellence — Hibberdene Beach for 10 years; Witsand and Umzumbe Beach for 15 years; and Kelly’s Beach and Lappiesbaai for 20 years each.
“These milestones reflect decades of stewardship and community partnership,” said Mike Denison, WESSA’s Senior Coastal Programme Manager.
For the 2025/26 season, seven tourism vessels earned Blue Flag recognition - including those operated by Marine Dynamics, White Shark Diving Company, and Offshore Adventures - while five marinas achieved full Blue Flag status, among them the Royal Alfred Marina, Thesen Harbour Town, Thesen Islands, the V & A Waterfront, and Club Mykonos Marina.
Ndlambe Municipality’s two-decade record stood out as a model of local leadership. Deputy Director of Community Protection Services, Fanie Fouché, said the programme has generated thousands of seasonal jobs and inspired young people to take action for the environment. “Through floods, storms and shifting tides, our community has kept the Blue Flag flying for 20 years,” he said.
WESSA also celebrated the expansion of its home-grown Green Coast Programme, which recognises natural coastal areas that balance biodiversity with eco-tourism. The network has more than doubled, now featuring 15 certified sites including Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, Nature’s Valley, Walker Bay, Swartvlei Beach, Chintsa Beach, and Kei Mouth.
Dr Deborah Robertson-Andersson, Green Coast implementer at Kei Mouth and Morgan Bay, described the programme’s grassroots impact: “We started as four people walking our coastline during lockdown and today we are over four hundred residents working together. That’s the spirit of Green Coast — citizen science in action.”
The event also highlighted WESSA’s “Stop the Strangle” campaign, which tackles marine pollution and ghost fishing gear. Marine conservationist Dickie Chivell shared harrowing experiences from the field, stressing the importance of small actions like clean-ups and fishing line bins to save marine life.
Representing the DFFE, Ryan Peter, Director of Coastal Development and Coordination, reminded attendees that sustainable coastal management depends on shared effort between national and local partners. “Together we are building the systems, data and partnerships that make South Africa a leader in integrated coastal management,” he said.
In closing, Denison urged ongoing collaboration: “As individuals we may not change the world, but we can make a difference where we live. When we join those smaller footprints together, it becomes an enormous investment in caring for our Earth.
This season, South Africa boasts 70 Blue Flag beaches — 50 with full status and 20 as pilot sites — spanning 16 municipalities nationwide.
Summary by Municipality (2025/26 Blue Flag Beaches):
City of Cape Town — 8 full sites
Overstrand — 2 full, 3 pilot (5 total)
Cape Agulhas — 1 full
Hessequa — 6 full
Mossel Bay — 4 full, 3 pilot (7 total)
Bitou — 6 full
Nelson Mandela Bay — 3 full, 2 pilot (5 total)
Kouga — 2 full
George — 3 full, 1 pilot (4 total)
Ndlambe — 3 full
KwaDukuza — 4 full
Ray Nkonyeni — 7 full, 2 pilot (9 total)
Umdoni — 1 full, 4 pilot (5 total)
Buffalo City Metro — 2 pilot
Mandeni — 2 pilot
Port Nolloth — 1 pilot
Total: 50 Full + 20 Pilot = 70 Blue Flag Beaches (as per official 2025/26 documentation).
