Beaches to remain closed despite independent findings, says eThekwini

eThekwini municipality says beaches will remain closed for now, despite an independent report which found beaches safe to reopen.

The report, commissioned by chemical industry company, United Phosphorous Limited (UPL), was performed by undisclosed ‘independent specialists’ and stated that all beaches between Salt Rock and the Umgeni river were safe to be reopened.

The beaches were closed after a major chemical spill, following an arson attack at the UPL Cornubia warehouse, during the unrest in July. 

eThekwini municipality spokesperson Princess Nkabane said the City was appealing to the public not to enter the water in the restricted areas until official communication from the City.

She said the City was aware of the significance of the long weekend, but that the responsibility of protecting the public from potential harm would not be taken lightly.

ALSO READ: North Coast beach closure chases tourists away as chemical spill report looms

Nkabane said the City expected to have a consolidated report ready by early next week, after which an independent peer review process would take place.

The final report on beach openings would be made available to the public at the same time it was sent for peer review.

Releasing their preliminary report today UPL commercial director Jan Botha said the results underwent scrutiny and interpretation by a range of independent specialists.

“They have concluded that beaches and ocean outside a 1km exclusion zone, north, south and east of the mouth pose an extremely low chemical risk to the public, regardless of whether the estuary mouth is open or closed.”

The findings follow a clean-up operation which UPL conducted over 10 weeks, costing the company some R177-million.

The beaches were closed by eThekwini while the safety of the water was being tested by the Forestry, Fisheries and Environment department – this report is still expected to be released by the department come end September.

ALSO READ: Final chemical report due end September as beaches from Umgeni to Salt Rock remain closed

The Courier requested a copy of UPL’s report, to which its communications firm said they were working on granting permission for.

Botha said the submission of the final report would only take place this evening.

“The draft report has already been submitted, and following comments from the authorities, amendments have been effected to the final report.

“The report cannot be released to the public at this stage, because it is a report prepared for the City, and is still under consideration.”

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