WHEN taking family members or friends from out of town on a tour of Richards Bay, Naval Island was always guaranteed to make the cut if not almost being the main attraction.

The days of showing off this once beautiful spot to Oom Piet and Tannie Mari, who came down from Randburg for the weekend, are long gone.

ALSO READ: Applications open for tourism relief funding

The road to the island has been fenced off since 18 December 2019, which, on a positive note, has allowed the local fauna and flora to thrive.

Damage to the local flora and fauna was the main reason that Transnet decided to whisk the privilege of the island away in the first place.

The lovely beaches enclosed by trees offered just enough shade to hide in after some time spent in the sun and sea.

The issue, however, was that these lovely beaches were being almost entirely ravaged by litter consisting of broken glass and plastics.

A lack of ablutions also caused some rather unpleasant smells when visiting the island on a Saturday morning after the previous night’s visitors had had a rather raucous party.

The general Zululand public may never again get the opportunity to enjoy the island owing to the way in which they treated it before it was fenced off.

The only way Naval Island has a chance to stay as luscious and beautiful as it is now if it once again becomes open to the public, is for officials to follow the route of Alkantstrand and search cars for alcohol on their way in, and perhaps patrol the island regularly on weekends if the visitors seem particularly rowdy.

HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

For news straight to your phone invite us:

WhatsApp – 060 784 2695

Instagram – zululand_observer