Former Mr South Africa Top 10 contestant Johan Vorster calls out littering at Gordons Bay Beach

The summer season is upon us, and you know what that means: beach days galore!

Here in Cape Town, our coastlines are legendary and every hot weekend sees visitors flooding the sand for some sun, sea and good times.

One local favourite, Gordons Bay Beach, a gem in the Western Cape just a short drive from Cape Town, should be shining right about now. And according to former Mr South Africa Top 10 in 2024, Johan Vorster, it did … after the crowds moved on.

Vorster's caption reads: "An epic beach day followed by a heartbreaking morning run. This shouldn’t be the price of summer."

“I walked past the beach here yesterday, it was packed, it was beautiful. And I just came from my Monday-morning run to see the aftermath, and it’s just disgusting!” he posted on Instagram, turning his camera to litter-strewn sand, sea-glass from broken beer bottles scattered across the shore.

“Come on, people, have a bit of pride. We know by now that we are not to litter.”

Here’s the thing: littering on beaches is not only sloppy but is actually illegal under local municipal by-laws like the Western Cape’s dumping and littering regulations, which prohibit the disposal of any waste in public areas.

If caught, offenders can face fines and other penalties for illegal dumping. In Cape Town alone, in a recent two-month span, 112 people were fined for littering, to the tune of R56 000.

Why does this matter so much? Beaches are part of our identity; they bring joy, tourism, the local economy, and seaside lifestyles. When litter takes over, the water becomes unsafe, wildlife suffers, and the view fades.

In the Western Cape, plastic dominates beach waste: one study found 94 to 99% of litter items on urban beaches were plastics, with food wrappers, bottle lids and snack packets the usual culprits. 

The “Don’t Be Trashy” campaign by CapeNature is one response, urging beachgoers to join clean-ups, report illegal dumping and reduce single-use plastics.

“If you see someone litter, confront them,” Vorster adds firmly, calling on beachgoers to take responsibility for keeping our coastline clean. He believes that caring for public spaces starts with accountability, a simple reminder that respect for nature should match our love for it.