The eThekwini Municipality has slammed social media claims of beachgoers being admitted to hospital with E. coli.

In a statement released last night, the municipality says a ‘misleading voice note’ was making the rounds on social media platforms, claiming that several people were admitted to various hospitals in the city, suffering from E. coli-related infections.

The municipality also denied claims that a teenager was hospitalised after swimming at uShaka Beach.

“The municipality can confirm that the voice note is false and is being used to scare the public from visiting the city’s beaches. The municipality has been in contact with hospitals in the city, including those that are mentioned in the voice note.

“All the hospitals denied the claims of mass hospitalisations linked to E. coli-related infections. The voice note and the post about the teenager are therefore rejected with the contempt they deserve. They are nothing but attempts to dissuade fun-loving South Africans from enjoying themselves at eThekwini beaches,” reads the statement.

According to the municipality, the voice note is part of a ‘relentless campaign’ to direct visitors away from Durban.

The municipality states that E. coli testing was conducted at uShaka Beach on December 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21.

“On all these days, E. coli readings were well below the 500 threshold, thus rendering the claim that the teenager has been hospitalised as a result of E. coli-related infections, as fake,” adds the municipality.

In the statement, the municipality says municipal experts continue to monitor water quality at all city beaches.

“Only beaches with acceptable standards in water quality are open. Beaches where water quality is poor are closed, and the public will be advised when it’s safe to use them. The public is reminded that peddling fake news is a criminal offence,” concludes the statement.