Namakwa residents who have, for more than sixty years, spent their year-end holidays on a stretch of beach near Kleinzee known as “Brazil” are no longer welcome there – and even diamond smuggler Louis Liebenberg has now been dragged into the saga.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) plans to act as mediator between the Namakwa residents and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure in an attempt to resolve the matter. Until then, tent pegs will unfortunately have to be driven in elsewhere.
The people from this region, and other areas in the country, have a long established, annual tradition of camping with tents and caravans on this piece of land near Kleinzee during the festive season.
In 2023, however, the Department decided that it is no longer allowed. The decision was reportedly not communicated to the public, and when campers arrived last December, police – and allegedly even the army – chased them off.
Reasons cited by the Department include littering, the lack of ablution facilities and some individuals illegally mining sand from the beach.
The Mayor of Nama Khoi Municipality, Mr Rodney Kritzinger, says he regularly camped at Brazil for many years. He explains that an official camping group was formed and that the campers had their own strict rules for cleanliness and discipline.
In fact, he was among those turned away in 2023. When they tried to find out what was going on, a rumour circulated that Louis Liebenberg had spitefully influenced an ANC minister to block access to the site, because former DA MP Veronica van Dyk also regularly camped there.
Mr. Kritzinger engaged with the Department and had “almost” achieved a breakthrough when a few frustrated Namakwa residents voiced their dissatisfaction to the Department. With that, the doors slammed shut again.
The last letter that Mr Kritzinger received from the Department confirms that the site is indeed closed to the public. The letter left the door slightly ajar, though, by stating that the “site does not comply with regulatory requirements”.
Mr. Kritzinger says the campers are quite willing to contribute to the construction of infrastructure, as the camping group has already collected a substantial amount in a kitty.
This is where the Freedom Front Plus plans to step in by asking the Department to reconsider its decision, seeing as the campers are willing to do their part. It would only be fair; and both the Department and the campers could benefit from such an agreement.
Who needs to go overseas for a December holiday if you can go camp out at Brazil, anyhow?
