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George Municipality celebrates blue Flag and Green Coast recognition for 2025/26 season

In the photo above: Mike Denison, Senior Manager:Coastal Programmes WESSA, Morgan Griffiths, Senior Manager: Advocacy, Membership and Governance Wessa, Nosidima Vumindaba: Manager Parks and Recreation,George Municipality, Buhle Mkentane: Superintendent Parks and Recreation, George Municipality, Sisanda Velembo: Superintendent Parks and Recreation, George Municipality and far right is Cindy-Lee Cloete: Wessa CEO with the sought-after Blue Flag outside the Royal St Andrews hotel in Port Alfred.

George Municipality is proud to announce that four of its beaches have once again received recognition under the WESSA Blue Flag Programme for the 2025/26 season, while Gwaing Beach has been awarded WESSA Green Coast status — highlighting George’s ongoing commitment to coastal excellence, environmental education and sustainable tourism.

The awards ceremony took place at the Royal St Andrews hotel hosted by Ndlambe Municipality in Port Alfred last week.

The full Blue Flag beaches for the 2025/26 season are Wilderness Beach, Herold’s Bay Beach, and Victoria Bay, with Leentjiesklip Beach continuing as a pilot Blue Flag site. The Blue Flag season for George Municipality runs from 1 December 2025 to 28 February 2026.

The addition of Gwaing Beach to WESSA’s Green Coast network further cements George’s leadership in responsible coastal stewardship. The Green Coast Programme recognises natural, less-developed coastal areas that protect biodiversity, promote nature-based tourism, and encourage community participation in managing and conserving coastal ecosystems.

The Blue Flag is an internationally recognised eco-label awarded annually to beaches, marinas, and tourism boats that meet global standards of excellence in water quality, environmental management, safety and environmental education.

To qualify, beaches undergo strict monitoring and testing. Bathing water is sampled regularly for E. coli and Enterococci to ensure that it meets health and safety standards. Water testing takes place before the start of the season and every 14 days thereafter, with results published on the George Municipality website. The Blue Flag is only hoisted when the beach is fully compliant, ensuring safe swimming conditions for all visitors.

George Municipality’s Blue Flag beaches are managed according to international best practices — ensuring clean, accessible and well-maintained facilities, lifeguards on duty, emergency response systems, and alcohol-free public areas. The Municipality continues to enhance universal access to its beaches, enabling all residents and visitors, including persons with disabilities, to enjoy the coastline.

 

  

Photo:

Nosidima Vumindaba: Manager Parks and Recreation,George Municipality, Mike Denison, Senior Manager:Coastal Programmes WESSA, Buhle Mkentane: Superintendent Parks and Recreation, George Municipality, Sisanda Velembo: Superintendent Parks and Recreation, George Municipality with the Green Coast status flag for Gwaing beach.