Due to the approaching severe weather predicted by forecasting services, the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board (KZNSB) has reached a decision to remove the shark safety gear on its coastline.

KZNSB acting head of operations, Greg Thompson said it has been reported that tropical cyclone, ‘Batsirai’ is currently on course and predicted to make land in southern Mozambique early next week.

ALSO READ: Tips for protecting your assets during natural disasters and severe weather

Batsirai is the second named system of the 2021/2022 season for the South-West Indian Ocean domain.

According to Thompson, this forecast could possibly have a major effect on the local sea and weather conditions from Sunday, February 6.

“We are also, in association with several weather forecasting services, currently observing the development of two other severe weather advisories which are, unfortunately, also forecast to affect our local weather patterns at more or less the same time as the above mentioned cyclone.

“A very large mass of rainfall stretching from Namibia all the way across the Northern Cape and into the Eastern Cape is fast approaching the KZN coastline, and a massive cold front which is developing in the Atlantic Ocean and currently approaching the Western Cape, is also predicted to reach us early next week,” he said.

The team at KZNSB started the removal of all boards, shark safety gear from the water this morning, Thursday February 3.

“This action is taken to prevent unnecessary losses and/or damage to equipment as a result of strong winds and heavy seas, associated with these severe weather systems, and bathing will be closed at all recognised KZN bathing beaches as from Friday February 4,” said Thompson.

He added that the gear will be redeployed once these systems dissipate, and the sea and weather conditions return to normal.