Both locals and international tourists are aware of South African Blue Flag beaches. It’s an annual initiative by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), to reward the top coastal destinations in the country. South Africa currently boasts 62 flags at 44 beaches, with the Western Cape home to the most sites.
The South African Blue Flag beaches Awards Ceremony takes place this week, on Friday 31 October 2025, at the Royal St Andrew’s Hotel in Port Alfred. The glittering awards dinner brings together more than 120 delegates from over 30 municipalities across South Africa, reports IOL.
SOUTH AFRICAN BLUE FLAG BEACHES
Among the world’s most identifiable eco-labels, the South African Blue Flag beaches programme is all about meeting strict global criteria for water quality, environmental education, management and safety. Each participating site undergoes independent water-quality testing, on-site audits and both national and international reviews before accreditation is confirmed. While managed locally by WESSA, the initiative is under the conservancy of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
As such, WESSA CEO, Cindy-Lee Cloete, explains: “Being one of the South African Blue Flag beaches is more than just a mark of quality. It shows commitment to people and planet. Therefore, each awarded site reflects local action, and how communities and municipalities are working to safeguard their coastal heritage.”
SUSTAINABLE COASTAL MANAGEMENT
Furthermore, WESSA says this year’s submissions show a continued enthusiasm for the programme. “More than 50 submissions for beaches, along with five marinas highlight the appetite for sustainable coastal management across South Africa,” says the society. Consequently, the City of Cape Town is a long-time participant in the programme, understanding that its beaches remain a cornerstone of city tourism.
And Cape Town’s flagship sites will be hoping to retain their Blue Flag status, after an independent investigation earlier this year found instances of higher-than-usual bacterial contamination at several popular beaches. Besides the popular venues such as Camps Bay, Clifton and Muizenberg, there are several other pilot sites working towards first-time accreditation, too.
What do you think? Do you think we’ll see some controversy in the annual Blue Flag beach awards? Or is it merely a rubber stamp for certain municipalities?
