The Public Protector’s recent scathing report – which found the relaxing of bylaws to grant the Mpenjati Nature Reserve nude beach status a “sugar-coating” exercise intended to make the municipality’s “unlawful act” seem more appealing – could be challenged.
Public Protecter Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s report states that
to “relax” bylaws was unlawful and a violation of national legislation. The Ray Nkonyeni municipality had also breached its own anti-nudity policies.
The KwaZulu-Natal Naturist Association told The Mercury it was already set to counter her ruling, and aimed to re-apply for the status.
Speaking to the Mercury on Thursday, the association’s chairperson, Chris Elliot, said they had just received the report.
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He said: “Sadly, this year the local economy will suffer. We get quite a huge number of both local and international tourists coming to Mpenjati Beach over the festive season. But this year the beaches will be quiet.”
The Concerned Citizens Group (CCG) had opposed the nudist beach from inception. The group’s Mike Effanga accused the municipality of having “colluded” with the nudists.
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“The Public Protector has rebuked this nudist beach idea, and rightly so. These people want to corrupt our community. When South Africa already suffers from so many social ills, nudity in public is definitely not what we need at this time.”