Muizenberg Beach has become more accessible for differently-abled people. The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department, in collaboration with the Western Cape’s Health Department have installed an access mat which allows those in wheelchairs and with walking aids to still enjoy the sandy beach.
Donated by the Western Cape Government Health’s ‘WoW’ programme (Western Cape on Wellness), the Mobi-Mat is a light and environmentally friendly walkway.
‘This is the launch of the first-ever Beach Access Mat in the province. Accordingly, it is expected that the installation of the Mobi-Mat would facilitate the empowerment and social inclusiveness of persons with mobility impairments through their participation in coastal recreation and leisure activities,’ said Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo.
Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Zahid Badroodien said: ‘As a Department, we recognised the need to give dignity and equal access to all members of society to our award-winning coastline. Not only will make the beach more enjoyable for those with a disability/differently-abled, but it will also add value to mothers with baby strollers and the elderly.’
This project is being piloted at Muizenberg Beach which is the City’s flagship differently-abled-friendly beach. Muizenberg has demarcated parking for the disabled, ramps, hand railings, ablution facilities and an amphibious wheelchair, which helps those with a disability to submerge directly into the water.
The beach mat will undergo a series of tests as part of the pilot project, and will only be available for public use once all legal documentation has been finalised. It is anticipated that this process will be concluded by the end of March 2020.
‘Developments and improvements in universal access to the City’s recreational nodes such as beaches and parks is a longstanding priority for the Recreation and Parks Department. Ultimately, the goal is to have these mats on every beach, although that will take some time to fund and implement’, said Badroodien.
Images: City of Cape Town
