Pictured above: [Left to right] From Ndlambe Municipality: Director Community Protection Services Ms Booysen-Willy and Fanie Fouché, Deputy Director: Community Protection Services.
From WESSA: Mike Denison, Coastal Programme Senior Manager and CEO, Cindy-Lee Cloete.

South Africa’s 2025/26 Blue Flag and Green Coast season has been officially launched, with 97 sites and operators honoured for excellence in coastal management and sustainable tourism. From urban beaches to community-led Green Coast projects, WESSA continues to celebrate partnerships that protect our coastlines and build a nation of People Caring for the Earth.

A celebration in Port Alfred

Co-hosted by Ndlambe Municipality at the Royal St. Alfred Hotel, the 2025/26 Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards ceremony marked two milestones, 25 years of Blue Flag in South Africa and 20 years of Ndlambe’s continuous participation, the longest-running partnership in the country.

“It’s a place recognised not only for its natural beauty, but for the Blue Flag status we work hard to uphold year after year,” says Khululwa Ncamiso, Mayor of Ndlambe Municipality.

Mayor Ncamiso praised her team’s dedication, emphasising that Blue Flag status symbolises service delivery and community care. Her commitment echoed WESSA’s 99-year legacy of enabling citizens to protect South Africa’s 3 000km coastline.

Blue Flag: Global standards, local action

Since 2001, WESSA has operated the Blue Flag Programme in South Africa on behalf of the global Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Supported by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the programme connects municipalities, tourism establishments/organisations and volunteers to maintain world-class standards in environmental management, safety and education.

“Our Blue Flag and Green Coast programmes are more than symbols; they’re a promise,” adds Cindy-Lee Cloete, WESSA CEO. Cloete highlighted that each flag represents an embodiment of South Africa’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

This year, five beaches were honoured for their long-term dedication to coastal excellence: Hibberdene Beach, 10 years; Witsand and Umzumbe Beach, 15 years each; and Kelly’s Beach and Lappiesbaai, 20 years each.

“These milestones reflect decades of environmental stewardship, community partnership and dedication to keeping our coastlines clean, safe and sustainable,” says Mike Denison, Senior Manager, WESSA Coastal Programme.

View full list of all 70 Blue Flag beaches and pilot sites in the table at the bottom.

The seven tourism boats awarded Blue Flag status for the 2025/26 season, include vessels operated by Marine Dynamics Shark & Whale Tours (Slashfin, Dreamcatcher, Whale Whisperer), White Shark Diving Company (White Shark, Shark Bait), and Offshore Adventures (Robberg Express, Oceanic). They are recognised for excellence in environmental education, management, safety, and responsible tourism.

Five marinas achieved Full Blue Flag status for maintaining world-class standards in water quality, safety, environmental management, and community engagement. These are the Royal Alfred Marina, Thesen Harbour Town Marina, Thesen Islands Homeowners Marina, V & A Waterfront, and Club Mykonos Marina.

Coastal partnerships creating impact

Leading the way is Ndlambe Municipality, celebrating 20 years as a Blue Flag champion.

“Through floods, storms and shifting tides, our community has kept the Blue Flag flying for 20 years,” says Fanie Fouché, Deputy Director: Community Protection Service. Fouché noted that the programme has generated thousands of local seasonal jobs and inspired youth environmental leadership, proving that long-term sustainability starts with local action.

Growing the Green Coast network

WESSA’s home-grown Green Coast Programme recognises natural, less-developed coastal areas that balance biodiversity protection with nature-based tourism. The network more than doubled in size this season, with 15 certified sites including Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, Nature’s Valley, Walker Bay, Swartvlei Beach, Chintsa Beach and Kei Mouth.

“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,” shares Dr Deborah Robertson-Andersson, Green Coast site implementer at Kei Mouth and Morgan Bay.

15 Green Coast sites received certification:

Implementing Partners	Green Coast Sites (as listed on certificates)
City of Cape Town	Blaauwberg Nature Reserve
Bitou Municipality & Nature’s Valley Trust	Nature’s Valley
CapeNature	Walker Bay
Knysna Municipality & The Strandloper Project	Swartvlei Beach
Mbhashe Local Municipality	Qatywa Beach, Lubanzi Beach, Cwebe Beach
Great Kei Local Municipality & Chrysalis Training	Chintsa Beach, Morgan Bay, Kei Mouth
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality & Mpenjati Conservancy, Leisure Bay Conservancy	Leisure Bay Conservancy, Trafalgar Marine Reserve and Surrounds
Kouga Municipality & The JBay Surf Alliance	J Bay Supertubes, J Bay Paradise Beach
George Local Municipality	Gwaing Beach

Turning awareness into action

The ceremony also spotlighted WESSA’s Stop the Strangle action campaign, a national initiative tackling marine pollution and ghost fishing gear.

“Every year around 640 000 tons of discarded fishing gear enter our oceans, killing marine life for decades. That’s why every fishing line bin, every cleanup, every act of awareness matters,” Denison shared during his introduction ahead of the presentation by  Dickie Chivell, a Marine Conservationist and Blue Flag Boat Operator.

“Marine pollution is one of the biggest killers of our marine animals and these are horrific deaths. I’ve seen mothers carrying their dead calves, and seals slowly choking to death. That’s why every fishing line bin, every cleanup, every act of awareness matters,” Chivell added during his presentation. “We are not just Marine Dynamics, or DFFE, or WESSA, we are what WESSA has been saying for 99 years: people caring for the Earth.”

Collective effort for coastal stewardship

Representing the DFFE, Ryan Peter, Director of Coastal Development and Coordination, reminded attendees that coastal management is a shared responsibility linking national policy and local action. “Together we are building the systems, data and partnerships that make South Africa a leader on the continent in integrated coastal management.”

In closing, Mike Denison reflected on the spirit of collective action, “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.”

2025/26 Full status Blue Flag beaches by municipality:

TOTAL FULL BLUE FLAG BEACHES: 50

Municipality	Full Blue Flag Sites
City of Cape Town (CoCT)	Bikini Beach, Camps Bay Beach, Clifton 4th, Fish Hoek Beach, Llandudno Beach, Melkbosstrand, Muizenberg Beach, Silwerstroomstrand
Overstrand Municipality	Grotto Beach, Kleinmond Beach
Cape Agulhas Municipality	Struisbaai
Hessequa Municipality (ES)	Lappiesbaai, Gouritzmond, Stilbaai-Wes, Witsand, Jongensfontein, Preekstoel
Mossel Bay Municipality	De Bakke Beach, Glentana Beach, Hartenbos Beach, Kleinbrak Beach
Bitou Municipality	Robberg V, The Dunes, The Waves, Singing Kettle, Nature’s Valley, Lookout Beach
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMMB)	Hobie Beach, Humewood Beach, Kings Beach
Kouga Municipality	Dolphin Main Beach, Cape St Francis Bay Beach
George Municipality (ES)	Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay Beach, Wilderness
Ndlambe Municipality	Kariega Beach, Kelly’s Beach, Middle Beach Kenton-on-Sea
KwaDukuza Municipality	Blythedale Beach, Salt Rock Main Beach, Thompson Bay Beach, Willard Beach
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality	Hibberdene Beach, Marina Beach, Ramsgate Beach, Southport Beach, Trafalgar Beach, Umzumbe Beach, New St Michaels Beach
Umdoni Municipality	Pennington

 

2025/26 Blue Flag Pilot sites by municipality

Total pilot beaches = 20

Municipality	Pilot Beach Sites
Overstrand Municipality	Castle Beach, Hawston Beach, Onrus Beach
Mossel Bay Municipality	Santos Beach, Suiderkruis, Tweekuilen
George Municipality (ES)	Leentjiesklip
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMMB)	Bluewater Bay, Wells Estate
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality	Port Edward Beach, Mtwentweni Beach
Umdoni Municipality	Rocky Bay, Preston, Umthwalume, Scottburgh
Buffalo City Metro	Kidds Beach, Gonubie
Mandeni Municipality	Tugela Mouth Beach, Dokodweni Beach
Port Nolloth Municipality	McDougalls Bay

Summary by Municipality (all beaches)

Municipality	Full Sites	Pilot Sites	Total Blue Flag Sites (2025/26)
City of Cape Town	8	0	8
Overstrand	2	3	5
Cape Agulhas	1	0	1
Hessequa	6	0	6
Mossel Bay	4	3	7
Bitou	6	0	6
Nelson Mandela Bay	3	2	5
Kouga	2	0	2
George	3	1	4
Ndlambe	3	0	3
KwaDukuza	4	0	4
Ray Nkonyeni	7	2	9
Umdoni	1	4	5
Buffalo City Metro	0	2	2
Mandeni	0	2	2
Port Nolloth	0	1	1

TOTAL: 50 Full + 20 Pilot = 70 Blue Flag Beaches (as per official 2025/26 documentation).

Click here to view more photos.

Pictured above: Learning about Healthy Foods for World Food Day at Pecanwood College.

For World Food Day 2025 on 16 October 2025, learners from Pecanwood College and Crawford International Bryanston rolled up their sleeves to celebrate this global event through meaningful, hands-on learning experiences.

At Pecanwood College, classes explored where our food comes from, why it’s so precious, and how healthy choices benefit both people and the planet. The Grade 0 learners proudly created a colourful awareness poster, while the entire school joined forces in a tinned food drive to support families in need — spreading kindness and community spirit beyond the classroom.

Pictured above: (left) Exploring Healthy Foods at Pecanwood College; (top) World Food Day Charity Drive at Pecanwood College to give to those in need in the community; (bottom right to left) Crawford International Bryanston – learner pretending to be a farmer for World Food Day and Farm-to-Table provocation.

Meanwhile, at Crawford International Bryanston, the Grade 00 learners brought the global theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future” to life through a joyful Farm-to-Table Provocation. Their classroom transformed into a bustling market, filled with baskets of real and pretend fruits, vegetables, and grains. Learners explored textures, colours, and scents, role-playing as farmers, cooks, and shoppers to discover the journey of food from farm to table.

Both schools beautifully combined creativity, teamwork, and global awareness, helping learners appreciate the effort behind every meal and understand the importance of making mindful, healthy, and sustainable food choices, one delicious lesson at a time.

Pictured above: World Food Day Poster created by learners at Pecanwood College.

Left to right: Learners at Thuto Ke Lesedi ECD Centre learning about water filtration. An ECD Learner at Zenzeleni ECD Centre exploring water conservation through an experiment. Qalabotjha Creche learners participating in a water filter experiment, encouraging hand-on learning

From 22 to 24 October 2025, the WESSA team completed the final implementation visits to the Qalabotjha Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres in Villiers, Free State, marking the successful conclusion of the WESSA–N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) Project.

This final phase focused on building climate change resilience by identifying and implementing innovative solutions for drought preparedness and water security, directly addressing the community’s ongoing challenges with water scarcity.

Throughout the week, WESSA facilitators conducted interactive education sessions with learners to deepen their understanding of water resources and human impacts on these systems. Children explored practical water conservation techniques, with a special focus on rainwater harvesting as a vital tool for community resilience.

Pictured above: Mr Ganye an ECD Practitioner at Ntataise ECD Centre during a drought simulation lesson

To ensure long-term sustainability, water tanks were installed at the participating ECDs, a tangible step towards securing consistent access to water while promoting responsible resource management among both learners and educators.

Educators workshop to enable future problem solving

The project concluded with an empowering teachers’ workshop, bringing together local educators to share ideas and solutions for drought resilience. The session encouraged participants to design awareness campaigns promoting water-wise behaviour in schools and communities, and to continue learning from one another through collaboration.

A key highlight of the workshop was the establishment of a collaborative platform for teachers, enabling the exchange of ideas, resources, and best practices. The initiative recognises that greater impact is achieved when schools work together, strengthening collective climate action at the grassroots level.

The completion of this phase underscores WESSA’s and N3TC’s shared commitment to environmental education, sustainable resource management, and community-driven resilience, ensuring that even the youngest learners become part of building a water-secure future.

Pictured above: N3TC Project school Eco-Committee coordinators attendees.

Pictured above: (top left) Thuthukani P.S engaging in an ice breaker activity; (top right) Mehlwane S.S celebrating receiving their waste project resources; (bottom right) Amandla P.S learners observing food waste using the microscope; and (bottom left) Impilo P.S learners observing food waste using the microscope.

During the week of 20–24 October 2025, WESSA conducted a support implementation session with Glencore-funded schools in the Ogies and Kriel areas of eMalahleni. The visit focused on helping schools address food waste management as part of the project’s circular economy focus, empowering learners to turn everyday waste into valuable resources.

The session began with a fun icebreaker activity that encouraged learners to reflect on the limited nature of natural resources and the importance of applying the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, to use materials more efficiently and reduce waste.

Learners were then introduced to Bokashi, a product that uses microorganisms to ferment food waste, creating nutrient-rich compost. Using microscopes, they observed the fungi and bacteria in action, an engaging hands-on experience that linked directly to their Natural Sciences curriculum and deepened their understanding of ecological processes.

Pictured above: (top left) Lehlaka Combined School learners on an Ice Breaker activity and (top right) learners harvesting at their school garden; (bottom right) Sukumani P.S learners using bokashi to ferment food waste and (bottom left) celebrating a planting session at their extended garden.

In addition to the week’s activities, Sukumani Primary School and Lehlaka Combine School proudly showcased their ongoing food security projects, expanding their school gardens which continue to benefit their communities. To further support these initiatives, the schools received waste resources to enhance their composting and gardening efforts.

The week’s activities reflected the project’s core goal, to promote environmental responsibility, reduce waste, and strengthen food security within school communities through practical, science-based learning.

On 24 October 2025, in honour of the International Day of Climate Action, WESSA joined the uMgubandlala Environmental Initiative in Ndwedwe for a powerful celebration of community-led conservation and climate resilience.

Hosted at the Intaphuka Community Hall, the event shone a spotlight on the community’s remarkable journey in restoring and protecting the uMgubandlala Wetlands, a vital ecosystem that supports biodiversity, livelihoods, and climate adaptation. Attendees were inspired by stories that reflected years of dedication and unity in safeguarding natural resources.

A highlight of the day was the donation of indigenous trees and vegetable seedlings by local partners and organisations, symbolising a shared commitment to sustainable ecosystems, food security, and collective climate action.

It was an honour for WESSA to stand alongside dedicated partners and community members recognised for their efforts in nurturing a healthier environment. We commend the uMgubandlala community for their unwavering commitment to protecting our natural heritage and building climate resilience from the ground up.