Nelson Mandela Bay keeps Blue Flag at three beaches as R350m world championships loom

Nelson Mandela Bay has kept international Blue Flag status for three of its beaches for the 2026/27 season, with the metro banking on the accreditation to carry its summer tourism trade and a heavy events calendar.

Kings Beach, Humewood Beach and Hobie Beach retained the status, and Humewood has now reached 25 consecutive years in the international Blue Flag Programme. The programme recognises beaches that meet environmental, water quality, safety and visitor facility standards, and status is renewed annually against those criteria, covering bathing water quality, environmental management, safety, accessibility, visitor facilities and environmental education.

The awards were announced at the national Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards, held recently at Grotto Beach in Hermanus.

Mayor Babalwa Lobishe said the accreditation reflects the municipality’s work to keep its beaches as tourism and economic assets. “We are a metro that has identified its beaches as one of the critical enablers of our economic growth, specifically through international water sports events and tourism in general,” she said.

She urged holidaymakers still deciding where to spend the summer to pick the metro. “I would like to call upon all those who have not yet confirmed their holiday destinations to choose Nelson Mandela Bay. They will enjoy world-standard, warm beaches and the friendliness of our people, which we are known for,” Lobishe said.

The municipality has allocated R5.6 million in the current financial year to beach maintenance and upgrades. Planned work includes improvements to the Kings Beach kiosk, a new balustrade at the Wells Estate beachfront, repairs to vandalised ablution facilities at Sardinia Bay, and upgrades to fencing and facilities at Maitlands and Brighton beaches.

It has also secured pilot status for Bluewater Bay and Wells Estate beaches as it works towards expanding the number of beaches meeting the programme’s requirements, and says it is committed to pursuing full accreditation for both.

Its Beach Safety Programme has trained young people as peace officers to patrol the Humewood and Summerstrand beachfronts, which the municipality says strengthens visitor safety while creating employment. Residents and visitors have been encouraged to swim only where lifeguards are on duty and to help protect the coastal environment.

The metro ties the coastal offering to a chain of local businesses, including accommodation establishments, restaurants, tour operators, water sports operators and small traders.

The events pipeline is substantial. The ISUZU IRONMAN African Championship, held at Hobie Beach in April 2026, was estimated to have injected more than R87 million into the local economy and generated over 20 787 verified overnight stays. Kings Beach will host the Lifesaving World Championships from 25 November to 13 December 2026, expected to draw more than 2 500 competitors along with their crews and supporters, and to generate an estimated R350 million in economic activity.

The municipality also reported that the 2025/26 cruise season brought 39 international vessels carrying 59 077 passengers and 22 994 crew members to Nelson Mandela Bay, contributing an estimated R111 million to the local economy, up from R96.5 million the previous season.

The economic figures in this report are the municipality’s own estimates as carried in the government’s summary of the announcement, not independently audited totals.

This report is drawn from SAnews (South African Government News Agency), the government’s own news service, at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/nelson-mandela-bay-retains-blue-flag-status-three-beaches.