By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The eThekwini Municipality has lifted a swimming ban on 11 beaches along the Durban coast following an improvement in water quality.
Spokesperson Musawenkosi Mayisela said the city acted on the advice of experts who said water levels had improved and were suitable 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,” he said.
The ban remains for Westbrook, Bronze, Laguna, Thekwini, Umhlanga, uMdloti, and uMgababa beaches.
Mayisela added there were continued assessments of the water quality at the other beaches to ensure public safety.
Several of the city’s beaches were closed following the April and May floods that saw an increase in E. coli levels in the water.
The municipality enforces closures as disregarding them could result in outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
Meanwhile ActionSA calls on the eThekwini Municipality to immediately conduct a new battery of tests and to make public those findings as they believe that new sewage breaks have rendered the E.coli tests conducted on 27 October 2022 outdated.
In a statement, ActionSA said reliance on an outdated test, for the reopening of beaches, would put residents and holidaymakers at serious risk.
ActionSA said it will continue to put pressure on the eThekwini Municipality to ensure that the rights and safety of citizens are protected, and ensure that crucial services are delivered.