Clothing optional
South Africa's first official nudist beach has been opened on Mpenjati beach, KwaZulu-Natal.
The beach has been a popular nudist area for almost 20 years, but like Sandy Bay in Cape Town, was never an official nudist beach.
Before the opening, a group of local residents and companies appealed against the opening of the nude beach.
“It would have a negative effect on a society that is striving for wholesome lifestyles,” said the group.
Public nudity is still very much taboo in most parts of the world, the only legal places for it being nude beaches and strip clubs, when they are legal.
Although I doubt I’d ever visit a nude beach myself, I can’t see the harm in it.
Many people complained when the Hibiscus Coast Municipality approved the application for the beach, but as it’s only 500 metres of beach, in a country with over 2 700 kilometres of coast, can’t they just not go to the nude beach?
It’s just my opinion, but isn’t the hallmark of a truly free country that nobody should be forbidden to do what they want, unless it can endanger others.
I don’t see how a nude beach can endanger anyone, it is clearly indicated by signs and has a long list of rules to govern the nudity on the beach.
The rules regard not sitting on other peoples chairs naked, prohibit any sexual activity whatsoever and require people to ask the permission of anyone they want to photograph.
Staring also won’t be tolerated, as it is considered rude, whether someone is wearing clothes or not.
The opening has been described as a trial-run, so perhaps the decision will be revoked in a few months, or maybe this is the first step towards a country filled with nude beaches.
If that’s the case, maybe one of these days we’ll see Sandpan or Bullfrog Pan opening a special beach? EvD
