The two, who became friends at PW Botha College, have been going to Victoria Bay for the past 12 years to surf, and experienced first-hand the initial degradation of the bay over the years leading up to 2002 when the braais were demolished and alcohol banned.
"During the glory years from 2002 to late 2010 families returned to the bay in numbers and everybody had a great time, safe and sober.
"For whatever bizarre reason, this trend was reversed by the selected few and the bay has once again slid into a weekend war zone, this all thanks to smart politicians who probably never visit this beach," say the two and their opinion is backed by well-known Victoria Bay campaigner, Rod Hossack, who has been appealing to the municipality to reverse their decision. André and Jonathan would like to appeal to the local authorities "to come to their senses", admit that this was a mistake and once again ban all forms of open fires and alcohol consumption, allowing the real beach lovers to return with their families.
"We will go on warm beach-going days to conduct the survey and interview beach-goers."
Says Hossack: "The last survey done on 15 December 1997, by the South Cape district council (now the Eden district municipality) the beach-goers voted overwhelmingly in favour of no open fires and no alcohol consumption in the open at Victoria Bay.
"The authorities have the results stored away, but for public consumption the vote was something like 94% in favour of no fires and alcohol," said Hossack, adding, "Politicians will quickly tell you that majority rules ... that is why we have a constitution right?"
In a letter addressed to the George municipality’s head of environmental affairs, Mr André Smith, Hossack said: "You can do a whole lot more to change all this and create a peaceful environment, free of filth and pollution, vulgar behaviour and primitive habits. Asseblief man, it just takes guts and effort. Another survey would be the right thing to do, not so?"
Smith replied that the residents of Herold’s Bay had asked the George municipality to remove the braai places in 2007 - this followed on a survey conducted there. "No survey was ever conducted in Victoria Bay. Instead of taking braai facilities away, council decided to introduce public braai areas at Vic Bay, Gwaing River mouth and Leentjiesklip. So far we only received complaints about Victoria Bay."
The Mossel Bay municipality enjoyed Blu
e Flag status (an international standard for keeping beaches up to high standards) at Santos and Hartenbos beaches throughout the past holiday season. Clean ablutions blocks, unpolluted water and life-guards are just some of the criteria. There is an alcohol and braai ban at all Mossel Bay’s beaches.
André Oosthuizen (right) and Jonathan Horne will be standing clip-board in hand, ready to ask citizens whether they are in favour or against a ban on braaiing at Victoria Bay. They have been going to the beach for 12 years and feel that it has become a war zone.
ARTICLE: PAULINE LOURENS
