All Durban beaches have been temporarily closed to the public until further notice as teams work to repair shark nets and infrastructure damaged by heavy rains.
The eThekwini Municipality issued a statement on Tuesday following two days of torrential downpours in parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
The closure was prompted by advice from the Natal Sharks Board, who raised concerns about the water quality in the aftermath of the heavy rains. The murky water, filled with logs and other unsafe debris, has damaged the shark nets at most beaches, rendering them unsafe for public use. Consequently, all water activities are prohibited during this closure.
The eThekwini Municipality, however, emphasised that residents can still enjoy activities along the beach that do not involve contact with the seawater. Beachgoers are urged to heed this warning.
In a move aimed at ensuring public safety and transparency, the municipality has partnered with Adopt-a-River, a non-profit organization. They will collaborate on jointly taking beach water samples, initiating a weekly sampling process with independent laboratories. This step is intended to provide credible and consistent test results, which have been previously varied due to separate sampling procedures.
Joint sampling started on Thursday October 5, at various locations, including Point Beach, uShaka, South Beach, North Beach, Battery Beach, Country Club, the river at Kingfisher Canoe Club, the river at Riverside, and the river below the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works. This joint effort seeks to prevent confusion among the public regarding beach water quality results and enhance overall public safety.
