Durban - Controversial naturist Beau Brummell has added his support to a plan to establish a nudist beach on the lower South Coast. But many locals fear a resulting increase in crime and inappropriate sexual behaviour.
On Tuesday, the Hibiscus Coast Municipality will announce its decision on an application by the KZN Naturist Association for a nudist beach near the Blue Flag Trafalgar Beach and Mpenjati Nature Reserve.
Those against the proposal voiced their disapproval at a public meeting hosted by the council earlier this week. The residents of the normally tranquil Trafalgar Beach area were anything but tranquil.
Reyna Joubert is one. “I don’t want my grandchildren looking at people’s dangling bits,” she said.
Those in favour, like Brummell, say it will boost tourism, mostly from Europe, and result in significant financial spinoffs.
Brummell, known as the King of Nudity, having operated the country’s only nudist colony (Beau Valley) for 14 years in Bela Bela, Mpumalanga, said he was excited about the prospect.
“I’m firmly in favour of such a move. It will be great for the South Coast and when it is opened, I’ll come there with my wife and grandchildren,” said Brummell.
He said there were large numbers of nudists in Europe and he was convinced they would flock there, resulting in a financial boom for the South Coast.
“The Germans, French and Scandinavians are big on natural swimming and sunbathing. They’ll come in big numbers and bring millions of euros with them,” Brummell said.
He also spoke about the therapeutic benefits of a nudist beach. Brummell believes people, especially those in the big cities, live stressful lives but that a nudist beach allowed them to free themselves of restraints and unwind.
But Joubert, a member of the Trafalgar Ratepayers’ As-sociation, was having none of it. “We are the ratepayers here and we’re against the idea.”
Joubert said the notion that money would flow into the South Coast because of a nudist beach was absurd.
“When the 2010 World Cup came around, we were so excited – we thought we would make money, but nothing came our way. The money didn’t filter past Amanzimtoti.”
Andrew Bromely-Gans, chairman of the ratepayers’ association, said the 1.5km strip of beach the naturists were eyeing was frequented by the local community and holidaymakers.
“Our objection is that the beach is used by family and tourists. People also walk their dogs and ride horses there. I don’t think they would enjoy being among people with no clothes.”
Trafalgar resident Dorothy McIntyre agreed, saying families wanted free access to the area and it would be better to seek an alternative.
The marine reserve near the beach is one of two such reserves on the KZN coast and among the few in the country.
“It is an important natural area because of its biodiversity. We feel it should stay that way,” said David Holt-Biddle, chairman of the Trafalgar Conservation Group.
He questioned how an influx of visitors would be accommodated in terms of ablution facilities because there were none near the area.
“You can’t put ablution facilities in a proclaimed area,” he said.
The Rev Thanda Ncane said the nearly 200 000 people he represented on two traditional councils opposed a nudist beach.
He said the voice of the masses needed to be taken into account. “Crime in the area will also increase drastically,” he added, referring to robbery and rape.
But Christo Bothma, who was elected chairman of the KZN Naturist Association, which was formed in February, is adamant there will be solid economic benefits.
He said his organisation submitted a financial impact analysis for the broader South Coast as part of the application.
“We used the impact that such facilities had on places in Europe and the US,” he said.
Sandy Bay in the Cape and a remote uMhlanga beach were not accredited nudist beaches and so were not popular with tourists, said Bothma.
If the beach were granted official status, the area could be policed and perverts would be kept at bay, he said.
Sunday Tribune