WATCH: Surfers march through Ballito for surfing rights

Ballito’s surf-loving community took to the streets on Tuesday to appeal to government to be allowed to return to the ocean waves under Level 4 lockdown.

South Africa’s current lockdown regulations do not allow swimming and water sports, or access to the beaches.

While joggers, walkers and cyclists are allowed to leave their homes to exercise between 6 and 9am, local surfers argue they should be allowed to hit the waves.

According to government officials the ban on water-based activities was introduced because of the risk of people needing assistance, which would require people to come into close contact, or for under-pressure medical services to be pulled away to treat preventable injuries.

Local surfers told the North Coast Courier this rule may make sense for some water sports, but that they were more likely to be the ones doing the rescuing than being rescued.

North Coast Surfers Union (NCSU) representative Chris Coates said: “Our surfing community is committed to finding good and practical solutions to getting back to the water.

Some of the proposals that have been submitted are to keep beaches closed to gatherings, but to allow access to limited solo exercise in the ocean while keeping strict social distancing protocol.”

Coates believes beach ablution facilities should remain closed and gatherings on beaches should be prohibited.

KwaDukuza Municipality lifeguard superintendent Bongani Xulu said local authorities received their directive from national government and were not in any position to change or adjust the lockdown regulations.

“If surfers say surfing is a lone sport, then you have to consider the rest of the water sports and why should they be excluded? Regardless of this, beach personnel are not available over this time and if someone does get into distress and requires rescue services then the personnel will be required to make contact and this puts their health in jeopardy.

“If surfers are allowed back into the sea then what about swimmers – you cannot exclude all the other water activities in favour of one,” said Xulu.

He also said the Ballito promenade was 1.2 meters in width.

“When you look at Umhlanga promenade and the Durban beachfront they are almost as wide as a road and people are able to maintain social distancing. Our promenade barely has space for two people. You have seen the amount of people on the road during the exercise window. Everyone is out during this time and it will create over crowding and put people at risk.”

Xulu urged the public to remain conscious of the reason for the lockdown.

“This is a challenging time for everyone and we all have to make sacrifices. We cannot permit public gatherings and need to ensure we abide by the regulations as set out by the government.

“When the curve comes down this will allow everyone to resume their sport.”

Government is still to finalise the activities permitted under each level in the coming weeks.

While no fixed time-frame for the country to move from the current level 4 to level 3 has been given, the move would depend on the level of infections and the readiness of the health sector to cope with coronavirus cases.

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