Factors to consider when thinking of the 4x4 ban

Driving on the beach is an issue that needs careful evaluation of all the relevant factors,  and there are many to consider when thinking about a total ban of all vehicles from all beaches.

We as recreational beach users are regularly confronted with the stories about damage that 4x4's cause on beaches when uniformed and naive drivers drive their vehicles over sand dunes with no care in the world.

Some basics about beach Driving: .

Off the beach and back in town there are other implications that effect the economy and social life style of the local residents in strange unintended ways. These impacts are felt more in the rural areas along the Elephant Coast of KZN than in any other coastal area, but most coastal areas feel the impact in a significant drop in the regional economy.

This is a knock on effect caused by the perceived difficulty of access to our well cared for beaches, that results in many would be recreational beach users deciding that they are not willing to walk great distances carrying their cooler box, umbrella, towels and other stuff, so they go else where, where they feel more comfortable.

In areas like the IWP (iSimangaliso Wetland Park) this is a big issue, as these recreational beach users would have traveled great distances to get to the Elephant Coast tourism region, and many would spend a night or 2 in the surrounding towns or tourism destinations like St. Lucia, Sodwana Bay, Kozi Bay, Mapelane or Cape Vidal.


These same recreational beach users support the regional economy in other ways to, they are the ones who

• buy the localy produced arts and crafts
• eat at resturants
• drink at pubs or shabeens
• support the local shops and petrol stations
• visit the local game reserves and other tourism attractions in the area
• use local tour guides as well as tour operators equipment and facilities 

With out the recreational beach users in the iSimangaliso wetland park many businesses have had to close their doors due to the total absence of a customer base. In short the 4x4 ban has caused a partial collapse of the domestic tourism market of the Elephant Coast and the iSimangaliso wetland park.

The regional economy of the Elephant Coast has not recovered, and will not recover until such time as the Authorities realise the total economic impact of the 4x4 ban, and include this in their Integrated Development Plans for all the local municipalities as well as include these issues in the IWPA IMP (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority Integrated Management Plan) through the mandated PPP (Public Participation Process) taking into account the definition of the term "ADVSERE EFFECTS" as defined in the ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act)

Definition copied from ICMA to help clarify matters here.

"ADVERS EFFECTS" means any actual or potential impact on the environment that
impairs, or may impair, the environment or any aspect of it to an extent that is more
than trivial or insignificant and. without limiting the term, includes any actual or potential impact on the environment that results in—
(a) a detrimental effect on the health or well-being of a person;
(b) an impairment of the ability of any person or community to provide for their
health, safety or social and economic needs; or
(c) a detrimental effect on the environment due to a significant impact or cumulative effect of that impact taken together with other impacts:

Register here to be included in the IWPA IMP PPP (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority Integrated Management Plan Public participation process)