Nudist beach not an option – yet

NO proposal for a nudist resort or beach has been submitted to the municipality.

And it’s far too soon to even consider submitting a proposal to the municipality to make a secluded area close to the Mpenjati Nature Reserve, near Trafalgar, into a naturist beach.

This is according to John Skene, the newly appointed marketing and publicity coordinator for the KwaZulu-Natal Naturist Association (KZNNA).

Mr Skene explained that only once the KZNNA is fully constituted, with a growing membership base, will a proposal be forwarded to the local, provincial and national government, to allow changes to the laws and by-laws governing public nudity.

However, the Hibiscus Coast Municipality’s by-laws don’t permit nude activities on beaches.

HCM spokesman, Simon Soboyisa, said should any association have an interest in applying for a nude bathing area, such application would have to be forwarded to council for consideration.

He confirmed that no application has been brought to the municipality’s attention.

Mr Skene said there are a number of naturists in KZN and surrounding areas who use Mpenjati beach, north of the lagoon.

“It has been a well known safe area for naturist leisure for more than 10 years,” he said.

The KZNNA inaugural meeting, attended by 20 naturists, was held at the Hooting Owl in Marina Beach last Saturday.

Christo Bothma was selected as the interim chairman.

Currently, there are two provincial naturist associations, based in the Western Cape and Gauteng.

Mr Skene said there was no official naturist association in KZN, hence the need to constitute one.

“I was not tasked to form one, I was asked to host the inaugural meeting,” said Mr Skene.

“All the people who attended the meeting were very enthusiastic about the concept,” he added.

Members of the Gauteng Naturist Association attended the meeting, and explained the advantages of having a naturist association in KZN.

A date was set for an AGM to officially constitute the KZNNA at the Hooting Owl on May 10.

Mr Skene said a large number of overseas visitors to South Africa are completely familiar and comfortable with topless or naturist friendly beaches.

“Having officially designated nudist beaches at suitable locations along the South African coastline, will cater for overseas and local tourists who practise the naturist lifestyle,” he said.

Mr Skene said naturists will have places to go, safe in the knowledge that they are legally allowed to be naked without any risk of arrest or harassment.

He said there had been positive and negative feedback, and some plain ignorant or stupid feedback from the public.

“The average public perception of naturist or naturism is totally wrong and a great deal of education and marketing will have to be done to change that perception, he added.

Interestingly, the Umtamuvuna transitional council by-laws, that are still in force, outlaw public nudity.