The Democratic Alliance (DA) has lost its legal bid to reopen the Garden Route beaches. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last week beaches would be closed after a spike in Coronavirus cases along the Western and Eastern Cape coastlines.
The party says the closure will have far-reaching and devastating consequences for local economies. The party says thousands of small businesses are now at serious risk of collapsing.
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“The DA is still deeply concerned that the blanket closure of the Garden Route’s beaches over the festive season will have far-reaching and devastating consequences for local economies, and for the livelihoods which depend on seasonal tourism during this time,” read a statement from the party.
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The Western Cape High court, however, did grant the DA a small concession. Cape Town’s beaches will now be open from 6 am until 7 pm. Party leader John Steenhuisen said: “The Democratic Alliance notes the ex tempore judgment handed down by the Western Cape High Court regarding our case to overrule the closure of the Garden Route’s beaches as well as challenging the irrationality of the time restrictions on beaches. While we are disappointed by the ruling in favour of the beach closures, we welcome the amended hours of beach operation which we’ve managed to get changed from 6 am to 6 pm.”
