Excerpts taken from Integrated Coastal Management Act User Friendly Guide, 2009 – Department of Environmental Affairs: Marine and Coastal Management:

Where is the coastal protection zone?

The next component of the South African coastal zone is what is referred to as the coastal protection zone. In essence, the coastal protection zone consists of a continuous strip of land, starting from the HWM and extending 100 metres inland in developed urban areas zoned as residential, commercial, or public open space, or 1000 metres inland in areas that remain undeveloped or that are commonly referred to as rural areas. There are however some provisions in order to justify certain adjustments to this zone.

The coastal protection zone is established to manage, regulate and restrict the use of land that is adjacent to coastal public property, or that plays a significant role in the coastal ecosystem.

What is the purpose of the coastal protection zone?

The coastal protection zone is established to manage, regulate and restrict the use of land that is adjacent to coastal public property, or that plays a significant role in the coastal ecosystem. More specifically, the coastal protection zone aims:

    * To protect the ecological integrity, natural character, and the economic, social and aesthetic value of the neighbouring coastal public property;
    * To avoid increasing the effect or severity of natural hazards;
    * To protect people, property and economic activities from the risks and threats which may arise from dynamic coastal processes such as wave and wind erosion, coastal storm surges, flooding and sea-level rise;
    * To maintain the natural functioning of the littoral active zone
    * To maintain the productivity of the coastal zone; and
    * To allow authorities to perform rescue and clean-up operations.

By Daniel and Anna

We've started a research project to document the perceptions of the local community with regards to the value, use and management of natural resources in the area. We've been painstakingly reviewing appropriate research methodologies, reading relevant case studies, translating explanations and questions and learning topical vocabulary. We've hired a translator and on Wednesday, in anticipation of our first meeting, we set out to invite people.

“Molweni. We are doing uphando (research). We are gathering ulwazi (information). We are going to make a big imephu (map) of the izinto zendalo (natural resources) here. We are meeting at the creche on Friday. Please do come.”

On the way home we stopped at a spaza for a celebratory coke, but we stood waiting while the shop owner came running back from a meeting halfway up the hill where two white bakkies were parked.

“Ah. What is your meeting about Mr-shop-owner?”

“Those guys over there are doing uphando. They are from Nature. They are collecting ulwazi to make a big imephu. They are having a meeting on Friday at the creche (a different one).”

We learned that the researchers in the white 'Nature' bakkies are collecting information all along the coastline from East London to Port St Johns in order to compile a database of buildings and residents... so that if (when) government decides to enforce the Integtrated Coastline Management Act, a law which prohibits building within 1000m of the sea along the Wild Coast, those found in contravention will be politely asked to move.

Oh dear. Who are these people? Everyone is starting to panic that they will be evicted from their homes. They are government.....what if people start to think we're government? No no no. This will not do at all. Everyone's going to go to the meeting about eviction and law-breaking. What if no one comes to our meeting?