KZN nudist beach application

"Having a naturist beach would help the area for economic growth," said Athol Lutge, chairman of the SA National Naturists Association, which brought the application.

 

"There would be more international and local visitors. There is a huge amount of money that comes in with naturist visitors."

 

The council was expected to let the association know its decision on Wednesday morning.

 

Lutge said they wanted the Mpenjati beach, between Palm beach and Trafalgar, to become a nudist beach.

 

He argued that France made R3.5 million a year on naturist visitors.

 

"For them, this would be a cheap holiday."

 

A debate on the matter was held on Monday and more than 100 local residents were for it and less than half that number were against it, he said. Those who were against it were narrow-minded, he said.

 

The Times newspaper quoted some residents at the meeting who were against the move.

 

"According to our bylaws, nudity is not allowed. If people want to be nude, I have no problem with it," Trafalgar resident Reyna Joubert was quoted as saying.

 

"I walk around nude in my house. But when I look at myself in the mirror I think I look like those old naked people on the beach.

 

Everything droops. I don't want to look at drooping boobs and buttocks on our beach."

 

Another resident Amanda Foster, who was in favour of the nudist beach, was quoted as saying: "I would want to enjoy a day at the beach with my family as naturists.

 

Am I weird because I am a mother and a grandmother who wants to be free and naked on the beach?"

 

(File photo: Gallo Images)