Coastal Access

Photo: Philile Mbatha

South Africa has a 3,000 km coastline that is rich in resources. These areas have been described as focal points for economic development, playing an important role in activities ranging from trade and industry, to transport, leisure and tourism, energy and food production as well as having tremendous social, cultural and spiritual value. Various activities impede and impact physical access to coastal areas, including mining, private resort and residential development, protected areas, golf course development and agriculture. Understanding the relationship between these initiatives, their development benefits, and threats that undermine equitable access, is vital if current policy initiatives aimed at increasing access to the coast are to be executed successfully.

Access to the coast and its resources was denied to most South Africans on the basis of race during the country’s colonial and apartheid history. Although there are cases where access to the coast has been enhanced, in many instances coastal areas have been reconfigured into exclusionary and exclusive spaces that do not uphold the rights of citizens to use and enjoy this public land. Despite supportive policies, access to land and resources remains highly contested in South Africa, particularly along the coast where tourism-led urbanisation is prevalent. This research seeks to describe, analyse and evaluate the way in which access to the South African coast and its resources has been reconfigured and governed since 1994.