Durban North resident and businessman questions ongoing beach closures
The eThekwini Municipality has cited high E. coli levels readings and said the decision to close beaches was a measure to ensure the health and safety of its residents and visitors.
A DURBAN North resident and businessman has questioned the lengthy closure of Durban’s beaches which have been closed since the devastating floods in April.
At the time, the eThekwini Municipality closed all Durban beaches indefinitely due to extensive damage of the sewerage network that resulted in sewage pollution in many rivers and now the ocean.
The City cited high E. coli levels readings and said the decision to close beaches was a measure to ensure the health and safety of its residents and visitors while repairs were being carried out.
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However, Jean-Marc Tostee, who owns Surf HQ shop on South Beach, said independent water-quality tests have shown some improvement in E. coli levels at some beaches.
“These ill-planned blanket beach closures have already caused many businesses in the Durban golden mile area to put staff on short-time, and retrenchments are looming next as the City has still not opened up the beaches which have been tested and found to be within acceptable levels for E. coli. While the city banned bathing, surfing was declared allowed ‘at your own risk’.
“I know tests are carried out every 14 days, but around a three-kilometre stretch of coastline. I know several businessmen and surfers feel this decision to close all beaches doesn’t make any sense. Durban is a tourist destination, and if some beaches are safe, then why not allow people to use those that are safe? As a surf shop, this is also hurting my business,” he said.
LISTEN: Durban’s beaches remain closed due to high E. coli levels
Tostee said, both he and his staff, as well as other residents, surf every day without any ill-effects.
“I’m all for closing beaches if it is not safe. I acknowledge there is a problem as we’ve seen some of the rivers. However, I know of an entire community surfing nearly every day, and none of them have gotten sick. We swallow water by mistake all the time, but there have been no ill-effects,” he said.
The eThekwini did not provide comment by the time of going to print.
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