Nearly 3 000 bags of litter have been collected on the country's beaches since the middle of December, with the Western Cape so far sporting the cleanest seaside.

The Vodacom Beach Cleaners have collected a total of 843 bags of litter from 19 of the country's most frequented tourist beaches. The campaign started on December 15 and runs until January 7.

A total of 1 150 bags were collected in the Eastern Cape. This slightly higher regional figure can be attributed to the fact that an additional beach is being cleaned in that area. Vodacom Beach Cleaners in Jeffreys Bay recorded the most bags collected with their weekend tally of 470 bags.

This was due to heavy storms in the area which saw cleaners clearing away large amounts of debris in addition to the usual litter.

KwaZulu-Natal cleaners gathered 981 bags and in the Western Cape a total of 712 bags were collected.

Vodacom is in partnership with various municipalities and assists the regular municipal staff at 19 of South Africa's top beaches to provide a service to the public to ensure the attractiveness of the beaches to tourists and beachgoers over the festive season.

Ten previously unemployed individuals and a supervisor are paid by Vodacom to assist with clean-up operations on each beach.

In Cape Town the clean-up crews work on Camps Bay beach, Clifton 3rd and 4th beaches, Muizenberg, Hout Bay, Strand and Mnandi.

The City of Cape Town says the Vodacom casuals, working alongside their staff, certainly help lighten the load.

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