Photo: Bosbeer / Twitter
Photo: Bosbeer / Twitter
A small group of people were spotted on Muizenberg Beach again on Sunday, following the protests held at the seafront yesterday. The popular sands, situated near Cape Town, played host to an act of mass civil disobedience – sparking a furious reaction from onlookers and politicians alike. And that spirit seems to have spilled over into Langebaan.
More people visit Muizenberg Beach on Sunday
A raft of comments have been shared on social media, lamenting the sight of beachgoers returning to Muizenberg earlier today. Despite Level 3 laws prohibiting seaside visits in national hot-spots – meaning that only beaches in the Northern Cape remain open – there is still a defiant cohort playing by their own lockdown laws:
Muizenberg mense having a beach day today… ?
— Ryan ? (@RyxnYelumalai) January 31, 2021
Muizenberg beach is officially open, surfers are surfing, families are walking and people are chilling…ja ne #enoughisenough
— Lolla (@noahieowl) January 31, 2021
People are surfing and enjoying the beach in Muizenberg, and yes they are…
— Being Mandela’s Dad (@IamTwiice) January 31, 2021
But wait – Langebaan protesters have also been spotted
Another 90 minutes up the coast from Muizenberg, and a second beach protest has taken place on Sunday. Langebaan is a tourist favourite for Capetonians, but the local industry has been battered by lockdown restrictions, chiefly implemented by the NCCC and the COGTA Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. In fact, NDZ was the target of several protesters…
#BeachProtest Langebaan residents and visitors also today went to the beach to protest against closure of beaches.. @BOSBEER2006 @1SecondLater @MARIUSBROODRYK @News24 @GovernmentZA pic.twitter.com/Vl207yCSgh
— BOSBEER.COM (@BOSBEER2006) January 31, 2021
RT @Gina26103174: @o0KeepitReal0o @Unathi_Kwaza #VoetsekANC #Voetsekhypocrites #VoetsekEFF "Open ?? beaches!"#Langebaan #WesternCape #Freedom #democracy pic.twitter.com/10IQpHzs0x
— West Coast (@wcoast) January 31, 2021
Watch: ‘Lockdown rebellion’ continues in Muizenberg, Langebaan
Video footage of the Muizenberg and Langebaan Beach visitors was then uploaded to social media on Sunday afternoon. Surfers, swimmers, and casual strollers were all seen at the location, which garnered national attention just 24 hours earlier. Somewhat unfazed by the fallout, these guys were happy to throw caution to the wind.
- The cloud cover wasn’t enough to stop a ‘second wave’ of rulebreakers in Muizenberg
#NonCompliance #LockdownLevel3 People at Muizenberg seem to go as usual. No regard for #COVID19 Regulations. No @SAPoliceService present. What makes Muizenberg so special @GovernmentZA @News24 @MARIUSBROODRYK @eNCA @SABCNews Than everyone else can also go to other beaches @ezaap pic.twitter.com/rLahHxki7V
— BOSBEER.COM (@BOSBEER2006) January 31, 2021
- There was also a ‘carnival atmosphere’ on the beach at Langebaan, as locals took their turn to protest:
Langebaan Main Beach today, great turn-out#FreeTheCape#StopTheLockdown#BeachProtest#WineIndustry#Hospitality https://t.co/LlmjccpXQi pic.twitter.com/i445AkYDj7
— Jeanne Martins (@capejeanne) January 31, 2021
EFF ‘upset’ with SAPS response to beach protests
Meanwhile, the Western Cape branch of the EFF expressed its fury over the way Muizenberg was policed this weekend:
“As per the COVID-19 regulations under lockdown level 3 all beaches are closed and therefore no one is allowed to use the beaches this way. On the part of the law enforcement officers and SAPS, this is a clear dereliction of duty for they failed to uphold the rule of law, thus allowed lawlessness to undermine established COVID-19 regulations.”
