Reason for Association of Recreational Beach Users
ar...@webmail.co.za
the spokes person for 4x4 losses based in Mtubatuba KZN South Africa
came to realise that there were many different organisations such as
fishing clubs, 4x4 clubs and even an association called BACSA or Beach
Action Committee of South Africa, all trying to get the attention of
the minister of DEAT or Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism.
These organisations are all independant and very few of them are based
localy within the Elephant Coast. ARBU aims to galvinse these seperate
organisations into creating a single body that will represent the
interests of all those involved with the recreational use of the
beaches along the Elephant Coast of KZN South Africa.
This will include the very large informal business sector of
Umkhanykude District Municipality who are dependant on the
recreational beach users for their income and related economic
oportunities created by the presence of tourists associated with the
recreational use of our beaches.
The Minister of DEAT is adamant that the 4x4 ban or the closure of our
beaches to reasonable motor vehicle traffic is here to stay, and he
has taken a hard stance on this issue. It has thus become apparent
that the ARBU will need to take a hard stand and use all legal chanels
to force the minister to take our concerns seriously.
Following the Ministers decision, the spokes person for 4x4 losses has
embarked on a mission to gather support and find documentation
pertaining to the 4x4 ban and its associated losses within the touism
industry of Umkhanyakude District Municipality.
It was brought to the attention of the spokes person for the 4x4
losses that the denial of reaonable beach access to the remote areas
of the Elephant Coast of KZN in the form of a blanket ban on vehicles
accessing the coastal zone has resulted in a vilotion of our
collective economic rights under section 24 of the south afdrican
constitution.
ARBU will thus be publishing documentation supporting our cause and
actively seeking persons who are in a position of influence, and
convinceing them of the substantial economic losses and related social
problems that have been caused by the absense of domestic toursts
within Umkhanykude district municipality.
These missing domestic tourists are infact those who would like to
make recreational use of the natural resources within the coastal
zones of the Elephant Coast of KZN South Africa, including the areas
under the control of the Greater St. Lucia wetlands park Authority, or
KZN DMA 27.
KZN DMA 27 is the District management area of Umkhanyakude District
Municipality which includes the Greater St. Lucia wetlands park world
heritage site and related game reserves and other government
controlled lands.
During the take over of power from KZN Wildlife by GSLWPA there was
and still is confusion as to how to deal with these huge losses.
Mapelana Nature reserve, Cape Vidal, Sordwana Bay and other holiday
destinations have lost a great deal of their annual turn over, and the
Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park Authority or GSLWPA has taken no
visable actions to rectify the issue. The Mtubatuba Municipality has
identified these losses in their IDP or Intergrated Developement plan,
but have as of end May 2007 taken no visable steps to rectify the
issue.
I trust and hope that ARBU will have your support in our efforts to
gain reasonable access to the Coastal zones of Umkhanykude district
Municipality for all persons who wish to use these coastal zones for
recreational purposes.