Durban North Beach. Picture: Tumi Pakkies/African News Agency (ANA)
Durban – ActionSA in KwaZulu-Natal has called for the eThekwini Municipality to provide updated E coli testing before the reopening of eThekwini’s beaches.
ActionSA KZN chairperson Zwakele Mncwango made the call after the municipality announced that it had opened more beaches following improved water quality standards.
Municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said that the decision to open these beaches was taken after recent water tests conducted by experts confirmed that beach water was at an acceptable level for recreational activities.
“Beaches that are open for swimming include Point, uShaka, Addington, South, Wedge, North, Bay of Plenty, Battery, Country Club, Brighton, Reunion, Pipeline, Toti Main, and Warner beaches,” Mayisela said.
“The following beaches remain closed until further notice. They are Westbrook, Bronze, Laguna Beach, Thekwini Beach, uMhlanga, uMdloti and uMgababa beaches.”
Mncwango said that ActionSA calls on the municipality to immediately conduct a new battery of tests and to make those findings public as we believe that new sewage breaks have rendered the E.coli tests conducted on October 27 outdated. Reliance on an outdated test, for the reopening of beaches, would put residents and holidaymakers at serious risk.
Mncwango said that beaches were reopened after ActionSA threatened the municipality with legal action for its failure to give effect to its constitutional responsibilities as the closure of these beaches negatively affected the tourism economy in the region, and therefore threatened jobs and livelihoods.
He said that ActionSA noted after the municipality’s decision to open beaches, at the popular Battery Beach, in particular, sewage spills occurred after the test results were taken which will likely increase E.coli levels.
Mncwango said that once a sewage spill occurs, sea currents take the sewage to other beaches in the region, which would therefore also potentially deem them unsafe for use. Unsafe E coli levels threaten the health and safety of people using the beaches and may cause severe illness for residents and tourists alike.
“ActionSA is aware that the municipality only tests for E coli every two weeks, which would make the current test results outdated. Low levels of testing also mean that the municipality would be slow to realise if E coli levels have increased,” Mncwango said.
“That is why the party is calling on the municipality to release its testing results as well as the date the tests were completed to ensure that beaches are safe for use.”
Mncwango said that ever since the severe flooding in KwaZulu-Natal, the municipality has been battling to maintain and restore sewage pump facilities in the region which has led to the closure of beaches and lives being threatened.
“The problem has been compounded by maladministration by the ANC-led government which has been slow to respond to the issue which threatens the livelihoods of thousands in the region,” Mncwango said.
“ActionSA has long advocated for the reopening of beaches in the region, and launched a public participation process to directly hear from communities how infrastructure failings have impeded their livelihoods.”
Mncwango said that while the party wants to see beaches reopen to protect jobs, especially in the run-up to the busy tourism season, they believe it should be done safely and in a manner that doesn’t threaten the health of people using the beaches.
He said that ActionSA would continue to place pressure on the eThekwini Municipality to ensure that the rights and safety of citizens are protected, and ensure that crucial services are delivered.
Daily News