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Displaying the 5 latest comments.
Submitted | first-name | support | concern | top-concern | message |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026-04-17 08:36:19 +02:00 | Roxanne | No I do not | Restriction of Public Access & Criminalisation of Recreation | This will demolish the holiday towns on the banks of the dams and rivers. I am a real estate agent and am already seeing a huge concern from buyers. They are now afraid to invest into holidays homes due to this. Some clients are wanting to cancel purchases. Who will compensate me for lost sales due to this. | |
2026-04-17 08:36:00 +02:00 | Andrew | No I do not | Restriction of Public Access & Criminalisation of Recreation | I believe Citizens should have access to bodies of water for recreational use. Especially the ocean and the ones that were built and paid for by tax payers money. Under the National Water Act, citizens currently have a right to “reasonable recreational use” of water. The new regulations suggest moving to a discretionary, permit-based system. This means traditional activities like fishing, boating, or swimming could be treated as a criminal offence unless a formal agreement is in place. This turns a public right into a state-controlled privilege that is “paywalled” for ordinary citizens. | |
2026-04-17 08:34:38 +02:00 | Zelda | No I do not | Environmental Management & Pollution Control | ||
2026-04-17 08:34:06 +02:00 | Jackie | No I do not | All of the above | Property Rights & 'Unbankable' Leases | |
2026-04-17 08:27:27 +02:00 | Andre | No I do not | All of the above | Restriction of Public Access & Criminalisation of Recreation |
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- Supporters of the regulations argue that the 1964 laws are outdated and that the new regulations will improve safety, protect the environment from invasive species, and ensure that dams are accessible to all South Africans, not just those with private shoreline access.
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- Safety and Security: Standardised rules for boating, safety equipment, and incident reporting will make our dams safer for everyone.
- Environmental Protection: Mandatory “wash bays” and stricter controls will help prevent the spread of invasive plants and water pollution.
- Equity and Transformation: The policy aims to open up state-owned land for public picnic areas and community access, ensuring broader benefit.
- Formalisation: Replacing informal “handshake” agreements with formal leases ensures transparency and revenue for the state to maintain infrastructure.
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- Supporters of the regulations argue that the 1964 laws are outdated and that the new regulations will improve safety, protect the environment from invasive species, and ensure that dams are accessible to all South Africans, not just those with private shoreline access.
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- Opponents of the regulations argue that the policy is a form of “regulatory overreach” that threatens local economies. They are concerned that short-term leases will make properties “unbankable,” and that the state is attempting to criminalise traditional recreational activities that are currently protected under the National Water Act.
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- Economic Risk: Capping leases at ~10 years with no automatic renewal prevents owners from securing 20-year bonds, potentially collapsing property values and tourism.
- Infringement of Rights: The regulations seek to treat recreational use as a “privilege” to be paid for, rather than a “right” as established in the National Water Act.
- De Facto Expropriation: Claiming control of private land below the flood line without compensation undermines the security of title deeds.
- Administrative Burden: Shifting the state’s job of monitoring and enforcement onto private clubs and citizens is an unfair and impractical burden.
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- Opponents of the regulations argue that the policy is a form of “regulatory overreach” that threatens local economies. They are concerned that short-term leases will make properties “unbankable,” and that the state is attempting to criminalise traditional recreational activities that are currently protected under the National Water Act.