The Democratic Alliance has sent a letter to government to request that they justify the grounds upon which they took the decision to close the beaches in the Garden Route District for the entirety of the festive season.
The DA have given the President until 17:00 on Wednesday, 16 December 2020 to respond, failing which they will approach the courts for urgent relief.
They argue that the infection rates between the Garden Route and KwaZulu-Natal, for example, are not dissimilar. Yet while beach closures in KwaZulu-Natal are limited to but a few days, the Garden Route has had a blanket restriction imposed unjustly for the entire festive season.
The closure is effective today until January 3rd.
The DA argues the closure will be the final nail in the coffin for the Garden Route’s coastal economies.
Meanwhile, lobby group Afriforum has started legal proceedings to declare the limiting of beach access unconstitutional.
The Garden Route has been declared a COVID-19 hotspot.