[Republic of South Africa] Coastal Cleanup at Blue Lagoon Beach, Durban: “Let’s Make a Beautiful Sea!”

On April 16, 2023, members from ASEZ, the World Mission Society Church of God University Student Volunteer Group, carried out a coastal cleanup at the Blue Lagoon Beach in Durban, Rep. of South Africa [Hereinafter South Africa]. About 20 volunteers collected 7,100 liters of trash.

Blue Lagoon Beach located in Durban, South Africa, is one of the famous tourist attraction. As it gets crowded for the beautiful scenery, lots of garbage was piled on the beach. For this, ASEZ in South Africa carried out a coastal cleanup with the support from the Durban Solid Waste Department and Ernest Smith, the Councilor for Ward 23.

ASEZ young adult volunteers got up early in the morning to clean and collected plastic waste, disposable cups, water bottles, beverage cans, cigarette buds, and plastic bags that were thrown away at the beach. More than 20 volunteers collected 71 100-liter bags.

Sipho Mazibuko, an ASEZ member, said, “We feel rewarded to free the beach of litter and pollution and restore it to its natural and beautiful glory.” Ward Councilor Ernest Smith encouraged the young adults by saying, “Thank you, ASEZ, for your efforts, and I hope the whole community will participate in this movement.”

ASEZ is carrying out the ASEZ Blue Carbon [ABC] Movement to clean the world’s oceans and rivers and care for the blue carbon* ecosystem in order to cope with climate change and realize carbon neutrality. Keeping beaches clean is crucial because when they become polluted with domestic waste and debris, the marine ecosystem cannot function properly.

ASEZ is also actively carrying out environmental cleanups in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Soshanguve in South Africa.

* Blue Carbon: absorbed by marine ecosystems such as salt marshes, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows.