Cape Town has secured 8 Blue Flag beaches for the 2025/26 season after the annual Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) awards ceremony was held in Port Alfred on Friday.
A total of 70 beaches nationwide received Blue Flag status, as well as 5 Marinas, 7 Tourism Boats, and 15 Green Coast sites.
The accreditation process is rigorous and also includes adjudication by an international panel.
The 8 City beaches boasting Blue Flag status for this season, which officially opens on 1 December 2025 and continues until 28 February 2026, are:
- Bikini Beach
- Camps Bay
- Clifton 4th
- Fish Hoek
- Llandudno
- Melkbosstrand
- Muizenberg
- Silwerstroomstrand
First introduced in 2001, Blue Flag status is awarded to beaches that meet high standards of environmental management and education, water quality, safety and services.
The Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services, Francine Higham, has expressed her delight at the news.
‘Not only do Blue Flags ensure a high standard of services, but we also put a high premium on beach safety, especially during the busy Festive Season. Our lifeguards will be on duty at beaches, and we would like to request beachgoers to please adhere to the safety rules.’
She says the Recreation and Parks Department will work closely with other departments to ensure continued compliance with the Blue Flag standards.
As the peak summer season approaches, the City has also urged the public to remember the golden rules:
- Only swim where and when lifeguards are on duty, between the red and yellow flags
- Beware of rip currents
- Don’t swim under the influence of alcohol
- Always actively monitor children in and around water.
70 Blue Flag beaches certified for the 2025/6 season (50 Full status and 20 Pilot):
| Municipality | Full Sites | Pilot Sites | Total Blue Flag Sites (2025/26) |
| City of Cape Town | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Overstrand | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Cape Agulhas | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Hessequa | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Mossel Bay | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Bitou | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Nelson Mandela Bay | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Kouga | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| George | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Ndlambe | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| KwaDukuza | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Ray Nkonyeni | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| Umdoni | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Buffalo City Metro | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Mandeni | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Port Nolloth *1st in Northern Cape | 0 | 1 | 1 |
- The seven tourism boats awarded Blue Flag status for the 2025/26 season include vessels operated by Marine Dynamics Shark & Whale Tours (Slashfin, Dreamcatcher, Whale Whisperer), White Shark Diving Company (White Shark, Shark Bait), and Offshore Adventures (Robberg Express, Oceanic). They are recognised for excellence in environmental education, management, safety, and responsible tourism.
- Five marinas achieved Full Blue Flag status for maintaining world-class standards in water quality, safety, environmental management, and community engagement. These are the Royal Alfred Marina, Thesen Harbour Town Marina, Thesen Islands Homeowners Marina, V & A Waterfront, and Club Mykonos Marina.
- WESSA says the Green Coast network has more than doubled in size this season, with new municipalities and community organisations joining to implement improved coastal management and eco-tourism initiatives.
15 Green Coast sites received certification:
| Implementing Partners | Green Coast Sites (as listed on certificates) |
| City of Cape Town | Blaauwberg Nature Reserve |
| Bitou Municipality & Nature’s Valley Trust | Nature’s Valley |
| CapeNature | Walker Bay |
| Knysna Municipality & The Strandloper Project | Swartvlei Beach |
| Mbhashe Local Municipality | Qatywa Beach, Lubanzi Beach, Cwebe Beach |
| Great Kei Local Municipality & Chrysalis Training | Chintsa Beach, Morgan Bay, Kei Mouth |
| Ray Nkonyeni Municipality & Mpenjati Conservancy, Leisure Bay Conservancy | Leisure Bay Conservancy, Trafalgar Marine Reserve and Surrounds |
| Kouga Municipality & The JBay Surf Alliance | J Bay Supertubes, J Bay Paradise Beach |
| George Local Municipality | Gwaing Beach |
