House Chair, I move without notice on behalf of the DA:

That the House -

1) notes that the Bluff ward of the Central Durban constituency was awarded international Whale Heritage Site status;

2) notes further that Bluff Ward Councillor J P Prinsloo worked day and night with the South Durban Steering Committee to bid for the status inspired by the World Whale Conference held in Durban in June 2017;

3) realises that Whale Heritage Sites are an initiative aimed at increasing the protection and conservation of whales, dolphins and porpoises and their habitats, while also contributing to sustainable livelihoods, the arts, science and education;

4) understands that Whale Heritage Sites are the gold standard for responsible whale watching destinations worldwide and that now the Bluff in Durban has such status, which will bring regional, national and global attention to the area and will help promote sustainable tourism, marine conservation and the whale-related heritage of the community;

5) further understands that of nine international applications, only two were successful - one in Hervey Bay in Australia and the other in the other in the Bluff, Durban;

6) recognises that the potential economic impact on the South Durban Basin and eThekwini as a whole is tremendous and will be embraced by all stakeholders who will benefit from the steering committee's achievement;

7) further recognises that the Bluff offers a historic whaling station and many opportunities

for whale and dolphin watching along the extensive coast; and

8) congratulates Ward Councillor J P Prinsloo and committee members Nonjabulo Dladla, Amanda Janse van Rensburg, Helga du Preez, Dudu Ntombela and Emil Unger.