Support the re-opening of the Orient Pier for disabled and senior citizens

We the disabled and senior citizens of East London have applied for the re-opening of the Orient Pier to be used for disabled and senior citizens to fish off as there are no other suitable areas in East London for disabled and senior citizens. The rivers that have been allocated to us by the municipality are polluted with sewerage and the conditions are unacceptable. It has been widely reported in the media that the Nahoon River is polluted and is not accessible after 18h00. The Gonubie River is also not accessible after 18h00. The Bonza bay river has no fish that are worth catching, it is also a lagoon, which is very seldom open to the sea. The Buffalo River is not accessible to wheelchairs and is about 10m from the water. The Orient Pier is the perfect and safe location for disabled and senior citizens.

The Ports Authorities have denied access onto the Orient Pier because of the ISPS (International Ship and Port Security Code). The ISPS code mentions acts of terrorism. The small pier falls under the municipality and not the Ports Authorities. However it allows the public and bathers swimming on the Orient Beach to have free access to the Orient Pier, they may come and go as they please 24/7. We feel this is discriminating against disabled people and senior citizens wanting access to the Orient Pier to be able to fish.