The small coastal town of Sedgefield, which sits along the Garden Route nestled between Knysna and George now boasts a beach wheelchair. The town is located along the beautiful Swartvlei lagoon, which flows into the ocean. There are two very popular beaches namely Myoli and Gerikes.
The deployment of a beach wheelchair in Sedgefield was the brainchild of the Sedgefield Ratepayers Association (SRA). The Quadriplegic and Paraplegic Charitable Trust made a significant donation and contribution. The balance was raised through the community.
The first beach wheelchair, procured from a local supplier, was deployed in Sedgefield at Myoli beach and hosted by Pili Pili restaurant in October 2024. All the stakeholders were thrilled to be able to support a local manufacturer who is a paraplegic himself.
The Quadriplegic and Paraplegic Charitable Trust is committed to providing accessible environments for people with severe mobility impairments, quadriplegics and paraplegics. The Sedgefield beach wheelchair project was one that the Trustees realised would be a value proposition for the Sedgefield community and economy.
The Sedgefield Ratepayers Association will continue to enquire from their membership, further activities and infrastructure that will add to the tourism offering of Sedgefield and the Garden Route. The SRA focuses on service delivery in Sedgefield as well as improving the wellbeing of Sedgefield, its residents and holidaymakers.
I have recently done an experiment whereby the heaviest of electric wheelchairs can go on the beach by riding on cheap used conveyor belting.
For less than 2,000 Rand every seaside town should have this available.
There’s a beach wheelchair at Gonubie Beach in East London.I was there during the festive season.
Thank you for your comment. We will be sure to share more information on the available beach wheelchair at Gonubie Beach.