Cape Town – Recent water testing has reportedly confirmed high levels of E.coli, forcing Durban’s eThekwini Municipality to close 13 beaches with immediate effect.
The municipality made the announcement on its Facebook page on Monday.
“All water activities such as swimming, surfing, fishing, bathing, canoeing, and other activities taking place at City beaches are therefore prohibited. Beachgoers are urged to heed this warning as disregarding it could result in outbreaks of waterborne diseases,” the statement read.
Earlier this month, scores of dead fish were spotted by residents at the Durban Isiphingo beach lagoon which is one of the beaches that are currently closed.
WATCH: Dozens of dead fish have been discovered at the Isipingo Beach estuary, south of Durban. It is believed to be as a result of another sewage spill.
?️: Supplied@TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/fybefNVeHN— Suthentira Govender (@SuthentiraG) August 10, 2022
Following the incident, the municipality started a clean-up operation and launched an investigation into the matter, reported TimesLIVE.
“In the interest of public safety, the city has taken a decision to prohibit access to the affected water courses until repairs to the pump station are finalised.
“Specialist clean-up crews are on-site to collect and dispose of the fish in a responsible manner,” the report quoted the municipality as saying.
Meanwhile the municipality said lifeguards and law enforcement officers will be on site to monitor the beaches to ensure the public adheres to the closures.
However, the municipality indicated that residents could still enjoy other activities along the beach that do not require them to come into contact with seawater.
“The public will be notified when the beaches are deemed safe to utilise,” the municipality said.
Here is the list of closed beaches
*Westbrook
*uMhlanga Main
*uMdloti
*Casuarina
*eThekwini Beach
*Laguna Seasonal Beach
*Ansteys Beach
*Brighton Beach
*Isiphingo Beach
*Reunion Beach
*Warner Beach
*Amanzimtoti Main Beach
*Pipeline Beach
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
