Another court rules against reopening of Eastern Cape, Garden Route beaches Updated Jacaranda FM Share this: Residents and businesses in the Garden Route district have suffered another blow after a second court ruled against the reopening of beaches in the area. Getty Images The High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday dismissed an application by AfriForum and a small group of local businesses to declare the closure of beaches as unconstitutional. President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to close some beaches during the festive season to manage the potential outbreak of Covid-19 infections is among the more contentious regulations. All Eastern Cape beaches and the Garden Route District beaches in the Western Cape will remain closed until early January.