{"id":44058,"date":"2024-12-05T10:35:10","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T08:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/"},"modified":"2025-03-13T14:53:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T12:53:21","slug":"prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/","title":{"rendered":"Prestigious Blue Flag raised at pristine beaches"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kouga Municipality hoisted the coveted Blue Flag high on Dolphin Beach in Jeffreys Bay and Cape St Francis Beach on December 2, celebrating these coastal gems\u2019 commitment to environmental excellence and world-class standards.<\/p>\n

The 2024-2025 Blue Flag season was officially launched on December 1, celebrating South Africa\u2019s commitment to sustainable coastal tourism and environmental excellence. The prestigious Blue Flag status has been awarded to 48 beaches, four marinas, and seven sustainable tourism boats across the country, cementing their compliance with the highest international standards for environmental management, safety, accessibility, and education.<\/p>\n

The official launch ceremony, held at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, highlighted Kouga Municipality\u2019s achievements alongside 13 other municipalities that received Blue Flag recognition.<\/p>\n

About the Blue Flag Programme<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Managed in South Africa by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) since 2001, and internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), the Blue Flag Programme is a globally recognised eco-label awarded to beaches, marinas, and tourism boats that meet 33 rigorous criteria. <\/p>\n

These include water quality, environmental education, accessibility, safety, security, and visitor facilities. WESSA CEO, Cindy-Lee Cloete, said, \u201cAchieving Blue Flag status is no small feat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis accolade celebrates the commitment of municipalities, marinas, and tourism boat operators to environmental sustainability, visitor safety, and caring for our marine environments and the people who enjoy these spaces. Through our Blue Flag and Green Coast Programmes, we collaborate closely with partners to tackle critical coastal management challenges and promote sustainable tourism.\u201d<\/p>\n

What visitors can expect <\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Blue Flag beach season runs from December 1 to April 31, 2025, for Dolphin Beach and from December 1 to February 28, 2025, for Cape St Francis Beach, with facilities and lifeguards operational between 08:00 and 17:00.<\/p>\n

Visitors to Blue Flag beaches can look forward to well-maintained amenities, clean ablutions, educational displays, and proactive safety measures, including trained lifeguards and first-aid equipment. <\/p>\n

Beaches are also tested regularly for water quality by independent laboratories, with results made publicly available on noticeboards and WESSA\u2019s website. Strict regulations ensure the cleanliness and safety of these beaches. <\/p>\n

Dogs and other pets are prohibited on Blue Flag Beaches to minimise pollution and risks to visitors, with fines imposed for non-compliance. Beaches may lose their Blue Flag accreditation should the municipality fail to uphold the required high standards for beachgoers.<\/p>\n

Accountability and standards<\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

WESSA conducts frequent inspections of Blue Flag sites to ensure adherence to the programme\u2019s stringent criteria. Sites failing to meet these standards risk temporary or permanent withdrawal of Blue Flag status, a measure aimed at maintaining the programme\u2019s integrity. <\/p>\n

Visitors are asked to comply with the beach signs, and the directions of the lifeguards and security, and are encouraged to report any concerns to the beach manager or WESSA, whose contact details are displayed on-site.<\/p>\n

Boosting local economies<\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Kouga Executive Mayor, Hattingh Bornman, emphasised the programme\u2019s economic and environmental impact.<\/p>\n

\n
The Blue Flag recognition not only enhances our municipality\u2019s appeal to international and local visitors but also drives significant economic benefits for our region. Our investment in the programme emphasises our commitment to visitor safety, environmental conservation, and sustainable coastal tourism.<\/div>\n
Bornman<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWe wish all residents and visitors a safe and enjoyable summer season at our Blue Flag beaches, which rank among the finest in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information on the Blue Flag Programme and a full list of award-winning sites, visit https:\/\/www.wessa.org.za\/blue-flag\/<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/p>\n
The Blue Flag was raised at Cape St Francis Beach.<\/div>\n
<\/span>Photo: SUPPLIED<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kouga Municipality hoisted the coveted Blue Flag high on Dolphin Beach in Jeffreys Bay and Cape St Francis Beach on December 2, celebrating these coastal gems\u2019 commitment to environmental excellence and world-class standards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":44063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"89c13b0f-bf53-4192-b01f-5855e89c5323","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-44058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nPrestigious Blue Flag raised at pristine beaches | Kouga Express<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Prestigious Blue Flag raised at pristine beaches\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Kouga Municipality hoisted the coveted Blue Flag high on Dolphin Beach in Jeffreys Bay and Cape St Francis Beach on December 2, celebrating these coastal gems\u2019 commitment to environmental excellence and world-class standards.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Kouga Express\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-12-05T08:35:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-13T12:53:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1d168ec3c03f4154a849f353cd069990.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1924\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kouga Express\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kouga Express\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kouga Express\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d1ca9a7485fc5ec64ff4daf5b9e211aa\"},\"headline\":\"Prestigious Blue Flag raised at pristine beaches\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-05T08:35:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-13T12:53:21+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":579,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/1d168ec3c03f4154a849f353cd069990.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2024\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/\",\"name\":\"Prestigious Blue Flag raised at pristine beaches | Kouga Express\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/1d168ec3c03f4154a849f353cd069990.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-05T08:35:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-13T12:53:21+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/1d168ec3c03f4154a849f353cd069990.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/1d168ec3c03f4154a849f353cd069990.jpg\",\"width\":1924,\"height\":1080,\"caption\":\"The Blue Flag was raised at Dolphin Beach in Jeffreys Bay. Photo:SUPPLIED\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Prestigious Blue Flag raised at pristine beaches\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/\",\"name\":\"Kouga Express\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Kouga Express\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/kouga-express-site-icon-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/kouga-express-site-icon-1.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Kouga Express\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/PEExpress1\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/express_newspapers\\\/\"],\"description\":\"Kouga Express has been the eyes, ears, and voice of the Kouga area since 2004. Established with the goal of keeping the Kouga and Koukamma communities informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region, with 20,000 free copies delivered mostly door to door every week. Kouga Express\u2019 distribution area includes Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, St. Francis Bay, Cape St. Francis, Aston Bay, Patensie, Hankey, Storms River, Tsitsikamma, Misgund, Joubertina, Krakeelrivier, Louterwater, Kareedouw, and Uniondale.\",\"email\":\"kougaexpress@novusmedia.co.za\",\"telephone\":\"042-992 5650\",\"legalName\":\"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd\",\"foundingDate\":\"2025-01-01\",\"vatID\":\"4100318916\",\"taxID\":\"2000\\\/018234\\\/07\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"51\",\"maxValue\":\"200\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d1ca9a7485fc5ec64ff4daf5b9e211aa\",\"name\":\"Kouga Express\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f47e9234fbd437508ffebc42bafee4a1f7b8b5fc5b5e58a3881ac4edc0688cdd?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f47e9234fbd437508ffebc42bafee4a1f7b8b5fc5b5e58a3881ac4edc0688cdd?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f47e9234fbd437508ffebc42bafee4a1f7b8b5fc5b5e58a3881ac4edc0688cdd?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Kouga Express\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/author\\\/kougaexpress\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Prestigious Blue Flag raised at pristine beaches | Kouga Express","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Prestigious Blue Flag raised at pristine beaches","og_description":"Kouga Municipality hoisted the coveted Blue Flag high on Dolphin Beach in Jeffreys Bay and Cape St Francis Beach on December 2, celebrating these coastal gems\u2019 commitment to environmental excellence and world-class standards.","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/","og_site_name":"Kouga Express","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/","article_published_time":"2024-12-05T08:35:10+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-03-13T12:53:21+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1924,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1d168ec3c03f4154a849f353cd069990.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Kouga Express","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Kouga Express","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/"},"author":{"name":"Kouga Express","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/d1ca9a7485fc5ec64ff4daf5b9e211aa"},"headline":"Prestigious Blue Flag raised at pristine beaches","datePublished":"2024-12-05T08:35:10+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-13T12:53:21+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/"},"wordCount":579,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1d168ec3c03f4154a849f353cd069990.jpg","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2024","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/","name":"Prestigious Blue Flag raised at pristine beaches | Kouga Express","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1d168ec3c03f4154a849f353cd069990.jpg","datePublished":"2024-12-05T08:35:10+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-13T12:53:21+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1d168ec3c03f4154a849f353cd069990.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1d168ec3c03f4154a849f353cd069990.jpg","width":1924,"height":1080,"caption":"The Blue Flag was raised at Dolphin Beach in Jeffreys Bay. Photo:SUPPLIED"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/prestigious-blue-flag-raised-at-pristine-beaches-20241204\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Prestigious Blue Flag raised at pristine beaches"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/","name":"Kouga Express","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#organization","name":"Kouga Express","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kouga-express-site-icon-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kouga-express-site-icon-1.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Kouga Express"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/express_newspapers\/"],"description":"Kouga Express has been the eyes, ears, and voice of the Kouga area since 2004. Established with the goal of keeping the Kouga and Koukamma communities informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region, with 20,000 free copies delivered mostly door to door every week. Kouga Express\u2019 distribution area includes Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, St. Francis Bay, Cape St. Francis, Aston Bay, Patensie, Hankey, Storms River, Tsitsikamma, Misgund, Joubertina, Krakeelrivier, Louterwater, Kareedouw, and Uniondale.","email":"kougaexpress@novusmedia.co.za","telephone":"042-992 5650","legalName":"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd","foundingDate":"2025-01-01","vatID":"4100318916","taxID":"2000\/018234\/07","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"51","maxValue":"200"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/d1ca9a7485fc5ec64ff4daf5b9e211aa","name":"Kouga Express","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f47e9234fbd437508ffebc42bafee4a1f7b8b5fc5b5e58a3881ac4edc0688cdd?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f47e9234fbd437508ffebc42bafee4a1f7b8b5fc5b5e58a3881ac4edc0688cdd?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f47e9234fbd437508ffebc42bafee4a1f7b8b5fc5b5e58a3881ac4edc0688cdd?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Kouga Express"},"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/author\/kougaexpress\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1d168ec3c03f4154a849f353cd069990.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":46017,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/kouga-municipality-proudly-raises-prestigious-blue-flag-20231108\/","url_meta":{"origin":44058,"position":0},"title":"Kouga Municipality proudly raises prestigious Blue Flag","author":"Kouga Express","date":"9 November 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Kouga Municipality proudly raised the prestigious Blue Flag at Dolphin Beach on November 1, designating three stunning beaches as world-class destinations.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1f187dfc98c9468abc168604112ff009.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1f187dfc98c9468abc168604112ff009.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1f187dfc98c9468abc168604112ff009.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1f187dfc98c9468abc168604112ff009.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1f187dfc98c9468abc168604112ff009.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1f187dfc98c9468abc168604112ff009.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57124,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/dolphin-beach-keeps-blue-flag-status-20181017-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":44058,"position":1},"title":"Dolphin Beach keeps Blue Flag status","author":"Kouga Express","date":"18 October 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"DOLPHIN Beach in Jeffreys Bay has retained its Blue Flag status, with the St Francis Bay canals able to hoist the flag for the first time.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":53924,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/jbay-to-fly-the-blue-flag-20191030-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":44058,"position":2},"title":"J\u2019Bay to fly the Blue Flag","author":"Kouga Express","date":"31 October 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"DOLPHIN Beach at Jeffreys Bay is one of only six beaches across the Eastern Cape to have been awarded international Blue Flag status ahead of the 2019\/2020 summer season.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":294580,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/two-buffalo-city-beaches-honoured-with-blue-flag-pilot-status\/","url_meta":{"origin":44058,"position":3},"title":"Two Buffalo City beaches honoured with Blue Flag Pilot status","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"20 November 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"EAST LONDON - The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality is delighted by the announcement that two of its beaches, Gonubie Beach and Kidds Beach, have once again received Blue Flag pilot status from the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA). Blue Flag status, according to WESSA, is one of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/beach-4591457_1280.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/beach-4591457_1280.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/beach-4591457_1280.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/beach-4591457_1280.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/beach-4591457_1280.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48099,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/three-beaches-in-kouga-awarded-blue-flag-status-20221103\/","url_meta":{"origin":44058,"position":4},"title":"Three beaches in Kouga awarded Blue Flag Status","author":"Kouga Express","date":"15 November 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"At least three beaches in the Kouga region have been awarded world-class status and the right to wave the Blue Flag on November 3.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f91e5e69d53c4939b4d56b8fdbba74c3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f91e5e69d53c4939b4d56b8fdbba74c3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f91e5e69d53c4939b4d56b8fdbba74c3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f91e5e69d53c4939b4d56b8fdbba74c3.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56944,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/all-systems-go-at-jbays-dolphin-beach-20181107-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":44058,"position":5},"title":"All systems go at JBay\u2019s Dolphin Beach","author":"Kouga Express","date":"8 November 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"IT is all systems go for the official Blue Flag season at Dolphin Beach, Jeffreys Bay.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Kouga Express","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44058\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44058"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=44058"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=44058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}