Beach volleyball players, touch rugby and soccer enthusiasts, surfers, lifesavers and surf ski paddlers are looking forward to enjoying pristine playgrounds at selected beaches around the country during the Vodacom Beach Clean Up which takes place from 16 December 2006 until 8 January 2007.
Beach athletes can rest assured that twenty-three selected beaches throughout KwaZulu-Natal and the Western, Southern and Eastern Cape will each be cleaned daily over a 23 day period. Seven popular KZN beaches that were selected include Umhlanga, Richards bay, Amanzimtoti, St Mikes, Margate, Ballito, Umgeni River Banks and Blue Lagoon.
“I know I speak on behalf of all surfers when I say that I am really stoked that Vodacom has backed this big project. Durban has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and we need to look after them. I am really grateful that this campaign will also create awareness about littering,” said Tasha Mentasti.
In the past there have been a number of reported incidents where sportsmen and women’s training has been marred during the peak holiday season with hazardous marine litter like glass causing a number of serious injuries.
“As an avid beach volleyball player it is really important for me to have peace of mind so that when I am playing I know that even though I am running, jumping and landing barefoot in the sand, I wont hurt myself on any waste left lying around by careless beachgoers,” commented former national volleyball team player Julian Chetty.
The campaign is not only good news for beach sports enthusiasts but also for the workers. The Vodacom Beach Clean Ups create employment over the festive season for over 220 previously unemployed individuals who will take pride in maintaining spotless, attractive and welcoming shores for all beachgoers.
“This is the second year running that Vodacom has sponsored the national beach clean up campaign. Vodacom’s involvement with the clean up efforts is in recognition that litter has a negative impact on marine and bird life that either choke or get tangled in waste.
“In addition, the risks posed by the litter to human life, especially children, can never be underestimated,” commented Palesa Chabula Vodacom Executive Head of Corporate Communications.
Due to the popularity of beaches as holiday destinations over the festive season local municipalities battle with the amount of litter generated by visitors. Vodacom is stepping in to work hand in hand with these municipalities to keep South Africa’s beaches as clean as possible.
Last year’s project saw the removal of 47,000 bags of waste from the South African coastline over the festive season. The Western Cape cleaners collected an impressive amount of 22, 500 bags with the Eastern and Southern Cape coming in at 14, 500 whilst Kwa Zulu Natal cleaners amassed 11, 500 packets of waste.
Vodacom is augmenting the efforts of municipalities to create a noticeable impact on the environment and to create awareness about how waste can have an adverse effect on the ecosystem.
The Vodacom National Beach Clean Up project will take place from 08h00 to 17h00 daily and clean-up staff will be easily identifiable in Vodacom branded t-shirts and caps. A supervisor appointed for each beach will ensure that the area is left clean and spotless before moving the team onto the next beach.
The Vodacom Beach Clean Up forms part of Vodacom’s Yebo Feva “Take Your Turn to Make a Difference” campaign held over the festive season.
The list of Selected Beaches for clean-up are:
Western Cape Beaches:
Hermanus – Grotto Beach
Camps Bay Beach
Clifton 3rd Beach
Clifton 4th Beach
Muizenberg
Strand
Minandi
Hout Bay
Eastern and Southern Cape Beaches:
Stilbaai
Boggoms Baai
Santos/Bakke – Mossel Bay
Hartenbos – Mossel Bay
Eastern Beach – East London
Kings Beach – Port Elizabeth
Dolphin/Main Beach – Jeffries Bay
Plettenberg Bay
KwaZulu Natal Beaches:
Umhlanga
Richards bay
Amanzimtoti
Umgeni River Banks / Blue Lagoon
St Mikes
Margate
Ballito
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