South Africa’s West Coast holiday brochures show pictures of beautiful beaches and unspoiled country sides. They advertise you can soak up the sun on pristine white beaches.

Unfortunately this is certainly a far cry from the truth on some west coast beaches.

St Helena Bay is in serious need of coastal management. The picture above shows pipes going into the sea from a fish processing factory. Repairs on the joints consist of some kind of cloth and rope. Below a closer view of apparent pristine west coast beach. What a shame!

St Helena oiled beaches.

Above right photo, Paternoster is centrally situated on the west coast, just 90 minutes drive from Cape Town. Close to Paternoster is Cape Columbine, which boasts one of the last manned lighthouses, and a nature reserve in which you’ll find the beautiful and unforgettable “Tieties Bay’.

Paternoster beach does not have pristine white beaches as advertised. General litter seems to becoming a serious problem on the beach unfortunately.

To live in Saldanha permanently will definitely reduce one’s life expectancy. Pollution of the country side is indescribable. The surrounding vegetation for many kilometers is a red-oxide color. Closer to town the roofs of houses,walls, roads and especially metal structures all have this same discoloration.

Why does our environmental minister allow this to happen? Instead of taking jobs away from the local abalone fisherman he should concentrate on preventing this type of environmental destruction.

The west coast landscape is been chopped up for housing development, bed and breakfast establishments and holiday accommodation rentals. When will the pollution and general decay of the coastline be addressed?

Marina Da Gama situated in the false bay area near Muizenberg with all its waterways and bird life and small nature reserve is a safer option for sure. West coast clean up you act.