[imagesource: Wikimedia Commons / NJR ZA]

Well done on making it through a dark winter of checking load shedding schedules into the spring months of also checking load shedding schedules.

I didn’t think it was possible but Eskom has managed to normalise load shedding now. It’s constant and yet the moaning has by and large died down, which is quite an achievement.

While summer has not yet been declared open (don’t worry, we’ll let you know), discussions around plans for the December holidays have begun. For those who plan on heading to St Francis Bay, and especially those taking their dogs along, there’s a change worth taking note of.

(Who doesn’t take their dog(s) on holiday with them? Monsters.)

St Francis Today points out that Cape St Francis is a Blue Flag Beach this year, which means there will be new regulations in place.

According to the Blue Flag Beach Criteria and Explanatory Notes from 2020:

‘Access to the beach by dogs and other domestic animals must be strictly controlled. Dogs or pets other than assistance dogs are not allowed on a Blue Flag beach or in the Blue Flag area if it is part of a larger beach.

If the presence of pets is permitted by local and national legislation, animals are only allowed in parking areas, walkways and promenades in the inland beach area.’

In other words, if someone wants to kick up a stink about your hound being on the beach, they can. The area’s beaches do become very busy during the end-of-year holidays and beach space is at a premium, so prepare for Karens resorting to whatever means necessary.

There’s no guarantee that arriving early and erecting your umbrella and beach towel combo will lead to sufficient real estate. There’s also no guarantee you won’t be attacked by a madman wielding an umbrella of his own. If it can happen to Seth, it can happen to anyone.

St Francis Today does finish by saying that the above rules are from 2020 and there’s a chance an update has since occurred.

In due course, Kouga Municipality plans to distribute a media release about what the Blue Flag awarding means for St Francis’ beaches.

[source:stfrancistoday]