The Costa Blanca not only has beautiful beaches, but also safe ones: the Valencia region will receive 139 Blue Flags in 2022, more than any other region in Spain. 21.7 percent of all Banderas Azules in Spain now blow on the Valencian coast. 74 of the flags alone go to beaches on the Costa Blanca, 17 more to ports. This makes Alicante the Spanish province with the most awards, while four Valencian beaches get the quality flag for the first time, two of them on the Costa Blanca.
The Blue Flags are awarded every year by the European Foundation for Environmental Education, FEE. In order to get the seal of approval, criteria such as water quality, safety on the beaches, environmental management and infrastructure for bathers are taken into account. The Blue Flags are not only awarded to beaches, but also to ports. In 2022, Blue Flags will be flown on 621 beaches across Spain, six more than last year. This means that Spain is once again the country with the most Blue Flags in the world, ahead of Greece and Turkey. The Costa Blanca has widened its gap to other provinces in Spain: in second place is Pontevedra with 63 awards, followed by Málaga with 44.
There are also high achievers within the Costa Blanca. The beaches of Orihuela Costa, in the very south of the province of Alicante, fly the most Blue Flags, eleven, while Torrevieja received the most flags for ports. The two awards from the previous year will be joined by a third Bandera Azul in 2022, namely for the Marina Las Salinas sports port. A total of 19 ports were awarded in the Valencia region, three more than in 2021.
There will be a few innovations on the Costa Blanca in 2022: For the first time this summer, the bay of Cala Baladrar in Benissa will be awarded the Blue Flag, it is one of the most beautiful bays on the Costa Blanca. The award also goes to Playa Dels Vivers beach in Guardamar del Segura, which has not received the flag since 2016. In the province of Valencia, the Blue Flag has been added to the Marenyet beaches in Cullera and Playa de l’Ahuir in Gandía.
Among the ports along the Costa Blanca, two are getting a Blue Flag for the first time this year: the Port of Benidorm and Marina Las Salinas in Torrevieja.
Here is the list of all beaches on the Costa Blanca with Blue Flag 2022
Alicante: L’Albufereta, Postiguet, Saladar-Urbanova, Sant Joan, Tabarca
L’Alfàs del Pi: Racó de L’Albir
Altea: Cap Blanc, La Roda, L’Espigó
Benidorm: Playa de Levante, Mal Pas
Benissa: Cala Baladrar (new), Cala Fustera
Benitachell: Cala del Moraig
Calpe: Cantal Roig, La Fossa, L’Arenal-Bol
Denia: Les Bovetes, Les Deveses, Les Marines, Marineta Cassiana, Molins, Punta del Raset
El Campello: Carrerlamar, Muchavista
Elche: Arenales del Sol-Sur, Carabassí, L’Altet, La Marina, Les Pesqueres-El Rebollo
Guardamar del Segura: Centre, El Moncaio, La Roqueta, Dels Vivers (new),
Javea: Arenal, Granadella, La Grava
Orihuela Costa: Aguamarina, Barranco Rubio, Cabo Roig -La Caleta, Cala Capitán, Cala Cerrada, Cala Estaca, Cala Mosca, Campoamor – La Glea, La Zenia – Cala Bosque, Mil Palmeras, Punta Prima
Pilar de la Horadada: Conde, Higuericas, Jesuitas, Mil Palmeras, Puerto, Rocamar
Santa Pola: Calas del Este, Calas Santiago Bernabéu, La Ermita, Llevant, Tamarit, Varador
Teulada-Moraira: El Portet, La Ampolla, Les Platgetes
Torrevieja: Cabo Cervera, Cala de las Piteras, El Cura, Los Locos, Los Náufragos, Torrelamata-Sur
Villajoyosa: Bol Nou, Playa Centro (Ciutat), La Caleta, Paraíso, Varadero
Surprisingly the tourist stronghold of Benidorm, of all places, loses an award on one of its two large beaches, Playa del Poniente. The bay of Cala de Finestrat nearby also lost the seal of approval. Benidorm immediately submitted an objection after beach councillor Mónica Gómez explained the loss of the award at Poniente Beach, by saying that the water sample, which was supposed to provide information about the water quality, was taken on one single day in June 2021. “The beach meets the criteria for much stricter quality awards. Water samples evaluated in the municipal laboratory at that time (June 2021) confirm that the samples taken by the FEE Foundation only gave an isolated result and that this is an isolated case,” Gómez told the EFE news agency.
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The minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, announced on Friday 11 June that a consortium called Takatso will acquire SAA and will own 51% in it.
Takatso consists of Harith General Partners, a 100% black owned company, and Global Aviation. Takatso will allegedly invest R 3 Billion in SAA but the whole transaction is just another sleight of hand, and a trick played on us by the master scam plunderer and liar, the ANC’s Ramaphosa – who once told the world there is no such thing as farm murders.
The scam was already clear for all to see from the start , even without starting to really dig into the details, because Gordhan already admitted that the ANC government, and thus the taxpayer, will still have to fund SAA with an additional R 14 Billion over the next couple of years.
How can a private consortium claim to own the SAA with a majority stake of 51%, but they only have to put in R 3 billion of their own funds whilst the government, through the taxpayers, must put in a further R 14 billion, even though they are now minority shareholders ?
The Public Investment Commissioner (PIC) – which manages the Government Employee’s Pension Fund (GEPF) – still owns 46% in Harith, so who will provide the R 3 billion pledged by Harith? Will funds from the GEPF be used to provide the R 3 billion? So it is likely that whilst Harith will call the shots and on paper will own the SAA, the funding will still come from the taxpayers and the pensions of government workers.
It is very ironic that the Mpati commission of enquiry, set up by Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate state capture of the PlC, dedicated a whole chapter of it’s final report to the very Harith General Partners Group, and yet here we are with the Ramaphosa administration appointing one of the chief capturers of the PIC, as the new owners of the SAA.
Ramaphosa claimed corruption will stop, but it is clear that corruption never stopped and that corruption is now just given a new jacket by the Ramaphosa administration. In fact they are legalising corruption and state capture now under the banner of “radical transformation” and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).
Pravin Gordhan told the media at the announcement of the Harith deal that it is very important that South Africa must ensure the survival of the SAA because it is the SAA that must maintain the image of the “transformed” South Africa. Of course Gordhan meant the image of a South Africa owned by black people, and run by black people as a totalitarian tyranny of the majority.
Gordhan, a communist, is known as a chief driver of the ANC’s anti – white “if you are white, you are out ” transformation policy and it was he who set up the Preferential Procurement Policy regulations in 2017, a regulatory BEE framework which stipulated only black companies could tender for state acquisition tenders.
Sakeliga took the matter to court and obtained a victory when the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in their favour, by finding the regulations unconstitutional. The current minister of finance, Tito Mboweni, appealed the judgement of the SCA and is taking it to the Constitutional Court.
The notion that the SAA is now privately owned and that it was legally bought by black businessmen using their own capital is questionable and could be one of the bigger scams and fake news narratives that the ANC has ever come up with, eclipsing even Guptas. Pravin Gordhan, who came up with this fake con artistry dressed as a BEE transaction, used to ask the public to connect the dots, when the Guptas ran the show, because he and Ramaphosa were too cowardly to connect the dots themselves.
It is thus quite ironic that it was initiated by the Cyril Ramaphosa faction of the ANC, that portrays itself as against corruption and state capture. Clearly Ramaphosa and Gordhan only waited patiently for the public and civil society to put all the pressure on, and expose the Guptas, just so that their faction of the ANC could remove Zuma, so they can have “their turn to feast at the table” as the african saying goes.
So let us connect the dots to see who and what is Harith General Partners, how they came into existence and who funds them.
Harith captured the state as far back as 2005, before anyone even thought of using the term state capture. Harith Fund Managers was set up by a man called Tshepo Mahloele from inside the state sector (PIC), so that he can one day resign and own it in a private capacity – and massively profit from it. Mahloele worked for the Public Investment Commissioner (PIC), which is the state fund manager in charge of managing funds belonging to the Government Employee’s Pension Fund (GEPF).
In 2005, Mahloele (on behalf of the PIC) requested a mandate from the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) to manage R1.65 billion in civil servant pension money, in investments in African infrastructure projects.
This was granted and the PIC set up Harith Fund Managers to manage a fund for these projects. Mahloele resigned from the PIC in 2006, but was then appointed as an external contractor to head the funds.
The commission found that Harith charged “significantly high fees” – equal to more than 8% per year. There was also a big poison pill: if the PIC terminated HFM, it had to pay 12 month’s management fee and 13% of the market value of all investments. Management later bought a big stake in Harith from the PIC.
The findings of the Mpati commission of enquiry were as follows:
“Harith’s conduct was driven by financial reward to its employees and management, and not by returns to the GEPF,” the commission found.
“It is the Commission’s view that there is no question that the approach taken provided easy access to PIC funds, influence and including an enhanced ability to secure additional investment, including from the Government Employee Pension Fund (GEPF).”
The commission recommended that the PIC and the GEPF should together appoint an independent investigator into Harith “as soon as possible”.
“The mandate must be to examine the entire PAIDF [the African infrastructure Fund] to determine that all monies due to both parties have been paid and properly accounted for; to determine whether any monies due to overcharging or any other malpractice should be recovered, and to provide the results of such investigation within six months to the Boards of both the GEPF and the PIC.”
However, the recommendation that Harith should be investigated was never implemented by Cyril Ramaphosa, and now we know why.
The commission also wanted Mahloele investigated for a potential breach of his fiduciary duties as a director in terms of the Companies Act. Mahloele chairs the Lebashe group, which bought Tiso Blackstar’s media assets (including the Business Day and Sunday Times) in 2019, so don’t expect any criticism from any newspaper owned by Lebashe.
The Lebashe group, Harith General Partners and Harith Fund managers are all closely linked and in fact are nothing more than a PIC backed cartel, both set up and funded by the ANC controlled PIC, and probably funding the ANC in a major way as well.
MAHLOELE AND OILGATE
In 2017, News24 reported that Mahloele sold a Pretoria mansion to ex Eskom CEO Brian Molefe, at a substantial discount. Mahloele said the sale was above board.
He was also linked to a controversial plan by state-owned company PetroSA to buy petrol stations across the country. Dubbing the saga ‘Oilgate’, the Mail & Guardian reported in 2013 that Harith replaced international bank HSBC as advisers on the deal, at substantial cost to PetroSA, and earning Harith a profit of over R300m.
When Harith was formed, the PIC was chaired by Jabu Moleketi, who was then the deputy finance minister, when Thabo Mbeki was the president of the ANC and the country.
Today Moleketi, too, is linked to Harith Fund Managers, Harith General Partners and the Lebashe Investment Group. Lebashe is an unlisted investments company and has done multiple deals with the PIC and currently owes it R15-billion according to investment officer Warren Wheatley.
Lebashe owns a wide range of investments and shares in SA companies like a 26,3% stake in EOH and a 7,2 % stake in Capitec, which made headlines during the commission of inquiry into the affairs of the Public Investment Corporation. The shares, controversially, were acquired from the state-owned asset manager, using a R2.25bn loan from the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), whose assets are managed by the PIC.
Mahloele is chairperson of Lebashe while Moleketi is a non-executive director at the company. Moleketi is also chairman of Harith whilst Mahloele is the CEO.
So the picture is starting to emerge where state capture was a reality long before the Guptas. In fact it is not inconceivable that Mahloele did not act on his own when he set up Harith from inside the PIC , but that he was acting on instructions of the Mbeki and Ramaphosa faction of the ANC who had a long term plan.
Zuma did not invent state capture, he just franchised it out to the Guptas.
The ANC itself invented state capture, because it’s core policy called the National Democratic Revolution or NDR, makes provision for the deployment of their loyalist cadres into each and every institution of South Africa, including the courts, to promote ANC policy.
It is also important to note that Cyril Ramaphosa served as chairman of the ANC’s deployment committee from 2013 onwards, and that was at the very height of state capture. Ramaphosa fooled a lot of white people, white liberals like Max du Preez portrayed him as the saviour of South Africa, and claimed that he would end corruption and state capture.
Only problem with that notion is that it is not true at all. It is patently false to say there is a good ANC and a bad ANC. There is just one ANC who is deeply criminal in nature, because “by their deeds you shall know them.”
If you have not noticed, the ANC’s only deeds and true calling is looting, and to conduct a racial war against the white minority of South Africa, to cover that plundering, with the simple plan to take over everything ever built up by whites and make it their own. The left wing lie being that whites stole everything from them, so they are simply taking back what is theirs… and everybody has fallen for it, and is on board with it… because to object would make you a “racist”…
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Humewood beach is recognised as South Africa’s oldest blue flag beach, an award given to impeccably clean beaches that are friendly to the environment, making this an ideal destination for families looking for a beach holiday in South Africa.
Before you go
We recommend that you check the Foreign and Commonwealth office website to help stay safe overseas and to make informed decisions about travelling abroad. You should only travel if you are fit to travel and able to participate in all part of the services that you have booked to undertake.
You will need to comply with the health requirements of your destination, as well as prove that you have any necessary vaccinations for your travel arrangements. Consult your doctor about any health requirements for your destination beforehand and visit IATA Travel Centre to find out what vaccinations you’ll need.
Should you need to take any medication with you, check before travel that you are allowed to take it into the country you are visiting. Some countries do not permit certain medicines even though they may be widely accepted in your own country. Take any paperwork or authorisation from your doctor that may be required.
Millions of people travel the world each year and enjoy trouble free trips but crimes against people and property are a fact of life. It makes sense to take the same responsibility for your own safety abroad as you would do at home.
Here are some tips you may find useful:
Use credit cards where possible to avoid carrying excessive amounts of cash or travellers cheques.
Use the hotel’s safety deposit box if there is one.
Lock your door even when you’re inside your room, but when you leave make sure you close and lock your windows, doors and balconies.
Don’t walk around poorly lit areas and beaches after dark and don’t feel embarrassed about crossing the road if you feel uneasy about someone in the street.
Try to use only registered or official taxis, so ask the hotel for guidance.
Drink responsibly.
All rooms have a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Some rooms include a sitting area where you can relax. The rooms are equipped with a private bathroom.
Bellville South Swimming Pool is 400 m from Gecko Accomodation, and Bellville Bowling Club is 0.6 km from the property. Cape Town International Airport is 8 km away.
This property also has one of the top-rated locations in Bellville! Guests are happier about it compared to other properties in the area.
Free private parking is available on site (reservation is needed).
Facilities available:
– Free Parking
– Family Rooms
To view more facilities at this venue, please click on the link below…..
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A refreshment stop will take place in Kleinmond before we make our way to Hermanus, to the Heart of Abalone. After a short explanation on Abalone, otherwise known as perlemoen in SA , you will boot up and take a walking tour to see abalone up close in their natural and farmed environment.. This is followed by an optional abalone tasting. Lunch will follow at Harbour Rock, overlooking the Hermanus new harbour before we board the whale watching cruise in Walker Bay, Hermanus. The cruise will take approximately an 2 – 2½ hour’s. We will then travel back to Cape Town via the N2 over Sir Lowry’s Pass, passing the historical towns of Elgin and Grabouw.
The Whale and Abalone Tour starts at 08h00 when you are picked up from your city hotel in a 2016 Ford Tourneo minibus that seats 7 guests. Ian, the owner operator will be your driver/guide for the day. We head out of the city along the N2 and take the beautiful scenic route along Clarence Drive to Stoney Point at Betty’s Bay. Here at you will see one of the only two land based African penguin breeding colonies, with the other being Boulders Beach on the opposite side of False Bay. The abandoned Whaling Station site where 300 whales were once killed annually for their oil (from 1917 – 1930) now gives birth to new life as penguins naturally selected breeding ground. After experiencing the sighting of African penguins, we go to Kleinmond for a refreshing cup of coffee or tea. A half an hours drive later we arrive in Hermanus, arguably the best land-based whale watching location in the world.
We visit Heart of Abalone where we will be provided the opportunity to see how Abagold, a working abalone farm operates. This rock-clinging sea snail is traditionally known for their great taste. Also known by it’s Afrikaans name “perlemoen” referring to it’s mother-of-pearl shell. Learn about the life cycle of this interesting sea snail, the challenges of the farming process, as well as the culture and history of this unique molluscs for South Africans and Chinese. Once the farm walk through is completed, we remove our boots that we were provided with and can now partake in the tasting of this delicasy. The tasting is for your own account and you will be spoilt with a delicious presentation of 3 ways in which abalone can be prepared. After this rare taster we head off to Harbour Rock restaurant.
The beauty of Harbour Rock restaurant is that it is situated on a cliff and overlooks Hermanus harbour from where we will embark on our whale watching cruise. The extensive highly acclaimed menu will for sure satisfy your taste buds. From mussels to mutton, you will be spoilt for choice. Acclaimed by locals and tourists alike, this is a restaurant that draws people back to Hermanus time and again.
After lunch the highlight of the tour begins. We board Miroshca, the purpose-built catamaran from where we will experience the beauty of the oceans majestic mammals in Walker Bay. Whale watching is only offered from June to November when these huge creatures visits the waters of the Cape.
Highlights
Private tour is operated with just your party and a guide/driver
Small group ensures personal service
Informative, friendly and professional guide
Small-group tour by minibus
The full-day tour departs from your centrally located downtown Cape Town, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, or Atlantic Seaboard (Mouille Point, Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Clifton and Camps Bay) hotel accommodation around 9am.
You’ll first be driven in an air-conditioned minivan to the Company Gardens downtown. There, you’ll embark on a walk toward the city center, strolling past the National Library, Cape Town Parliament, and St. George’s Cathedral. You’ll continue through the heart of the old city where you will find some of Cape Town’s oldest and most prestigious galleries, antique shops, and auction houses, and visit The Cape Gallery flanked by colorful Georgian and Dutch facades. You’ll then return to the Company Gardens for a visit to the South African National Gallery. It houses outstanding collections of South African, British, French, Dutch, and Flemish art with regular exhibitions of paintings, works on paper, photography, sculpture, beadwork, textiles, and architecture.
Back in the minivan, you’ll travel to the village of Muizenberg, home to Casa Labia. Built in 1929 to reflect the spirit of 18th century Venice, Casa Labia is the former Muizenberg residence of Count and Countess Natale Labia. Today it is a contemporary South African art gallery, an uber-stylish Africa nova boutique, as well as a celebrated Italian café where you can enjoy a light and delicious lunch (at your own expense).
You’ll then continue on to the quaint seaside village of Kalk Bay where the pace of life is a little slower, and explore its quirky shops, antiques, crafts, and art. Traditional fishing vessels still return with the ‘catch of the day’ to the little port, while surfers enjoy surfing one of the best reefs in Cape Town. Established in 1995, The Kalk Bay Gallery, housed in the distinct Orange Building overlooking False Bay, is reputed to have one of the most comprehensive selections of original contemporary South African art. You’ll have time to explore its unique selection of over 3000 art works from international and South African artists for sale.
Finally, you’ll return to your Cape Town accommodation in the late afternoon. This tour is not wheelchair accessible, and a moderate amount of walking is required. Note that two people per booking is required.
General
Medicines
If taking medicines with you, try to keep in the original packaging. This will assist security to identify the medicines and will prevent delays.
Camera Film
The x-rays used to screen hold baggage should not affect most camera film. Film material over 1000ASA/31 DIN should be removed and offered for screening separately.
Valuables
Keep your valuables such as jewellery and important documents safely stored in your hand baggage. It is a good idea to keep some money (local currency) on your person. Then, should you be separated from your bag, you will still be able to make payphone calls, pay for transport or purchase small items.
Laptops
Laptops should be removed from their bags for screening prior to boarding the aircraft.
Many laptop bags look similar which can cause confusion when leaving the aircraft. Put a key ring, sticker or other identifying mark on your bag so that you can be sure that you are leaving with the correct computer.
Prohibited and Permitted Items
Airports Company South Africa will enforce new rules that restrict the amount of items that passengers may take on board. Please refer to our Prohibited and Permitted Items guidelines.
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General
Keep your hand luggage with you at all times.
Ensure that all zips and fasteners are in good working condition – baggage can move about in the overhead compartment and unsecured items may fall out.
Don’t wrap gifts – it is possible that the security teams may wish to view them properly, and will unwrap them.
Keep electronic items to a minimum.
Don’t carry anything on to an aircraft for anyone else. If you are asked to do so, please contact Airport Security.
Remove old tags and barcodes from your hand luggage.
Size
Each passenger is allowed one item of hand luggage which should not be bigger than the size indicated.
Weight
The guideline is approximately 5kg for hand luggage. If you cannot easily lift your hand luggage above your head, it is probably too heavy.
Camera Film
The x-rays used to screen baggage should not affect most camera film. Film material over 1000ASA/31 DIN should be removed and offered for screening separately.
Valuables
Keep your valuables such as jewellery and important documents safely stored in your hand baggage.
Laptops
Laptops should be removed from their bags for screening prior to boarding the aircraft.
Many laptop bags look similar which can cause confusion when leaving the aircraft. Put a key ring, sticker or other identifying mark on your bag so that you can be sure that you are leaving with the correct computer.
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This allows customers the option to travel to the main business and leisure destinations within southern Africa.
An aviation company founded in 1946, Comair Limited is managed and owned by South Africans through its listing on the JSE.
We’ve been operating successfully within southern Africa for more than six decades with an internationally recognized safety record. Since 1996, we have been operating local
and regional services within southern African under the British Airways livery as part of our licence agreement with British Airways Plc and launched South Africa’s first low-fare airline, kulula.com in 2001.
This adventurous brand has since inception revolutionised air travel in South Africa by making flying easier and more affordable to customers.
In 1996, Comair joined British Airways as a franchise partner and became known as British Airways Comair, taking on the colours and livery of British Airways International. The British Airways brand brought with it a rich heritage of stylish travel, reputation for service excellence and a wide range of products such as the prestigious Executive Club frequent flyer programme.
As franchise partner of British Airways and a member of the oneworld® alliance, Comair offers seamless connections to the international route network and continues to serve local premium customers with the same standards in mind.
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