Durban - Holidaymakers who have come to Durban, especially for the beach, are excited because they can once again enjoy the surf.
Many of the beaches along the east coast have been affected by high levels of E coli following the damage caused to sewerage infrastructure during the floods in April.
This caused the eThekwini Municipality to close certain beaches due to them being a health and safety hazard. However, on Friday, as holidaymakers made their way to Durban for the third term school holidays, the ban on swimming at some beaches was lifted.
Municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said the decision to open some beaches was made after the quality of the water improved. “A team of experts recently tested the water from the beaches and the results confirmed that the water is now at an acceptable standard,” he said.
The beaches that were now open for swimming were Bay of Plenty Beach, North Beach, Wedge Beach and Ushaka Beach.
Mayisela said that in the south, Umgababa, Umkomaas, Brighton and Treasure beaches remained open. He added the water quality was being constantly monitored. Itumeleng Ramashoai, 36, from Johannesburg, said she was excited.
“I am so happy that the beaches are now open for swimming. It coincided with our trip to Durban, which we had been planning since last year in March,” she said.
Ramashoai, who is a traditional healer, said although it was not her first visit to the beach, she was happy to get into the water. Zinhle Bogatsu, 33, also from Johannesburg, said she was in Durban to unwind with her children as the schools were closed for the holiday.
“You cannot come to Durban and not visit the beach. Although it was closed for a long time, we hope now that it will remain open for much longer so that we can visit and swim again in December, as the hottest season is coming up,” she said.
On Thursday, following a full council meeting convened virtually, the City announced the adoption of a report for the allocation of R184 million from the National Treasury towards the repair of roads, water and infrastructure and to speed up the work already started to rehabilitate its bulk water infrastructure damaged by floods.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE