Nudists hang onto their hats

Naturists preparing to bare all this Easter may have to keep their clothes on if a last-minute decision is made in favour of a group opposing KwaZulu-Natal's first legal nudist beach.

The Hibiscus Coast Municipality has resolved to consider objections made by the Concerned Citizens of Hibiscus Coast Municipality, a group of religious leaders and ratepayers, and announce its decision at the next full council meeting, just days before the beach near the Mpenjati Nature Reserve is scheduled to officially open on Good Friday.

The municipality is steaming ahead with preparations for the launch , but the citizen group's spokesman, Reverend Mike Effanga, said he was confident the council would overturn its decision .

"The voice of the people has to be heard. The decision to have a nudist beach here is illegal, immoral, unethical and undemocratic," he said.

Effanga said the municipality had not complied with public participation regulations.

"At the meeting last year only eight people supported the proposed nudist beach, while more than 100 were against it."

South African National Naturists Association spokesman Serge Pavlovic said he did not think the decision would be overturned.

"Today we have representatives meeting with the municipality and other organisations on the beach.

"They are on a site visit to look at access and ablution facilities ahead of the opening," Pavlovic said.

Council spokesman Simon April said the only avenue to reopen the discussion on the beach was to request that the resolution be rescinded.

"The council resolved to consider the matter at the next sitting ," he said.