HOLIDAYMAKERS were seen holding their noses and trying to sidestep the stinky water which was pouring from the Margate lifeguard tower on Tuesday this week.
Inside the lifesaver’s building the supposed dirty ‘drain water’ had flooded the floor of the building and the lifesavers on duty were forced to sit inside with the unbearable stench.
It was an unhygienic situation which had apparently been reported to the authorities concerned. But nothing has been done to rectify the problem to date.
According to eyewitnesses the problem has been going on for quite some time but it was the first time the water had poured down the lifeboat launching ramp onto the beach.
Visitors to the beach had no option but to walk through the filthy water if they wanted to access the north side of the beach.
Jackie du Preez, who is visiting from Richard’s Bay and who walked past holding her nose, said she was disgusted by the smell and that this was just ‘not on’ for those visiting the beach.
Another holidaymaker said it was ‘terrible’ and that this was the ‘worst I have seen in Margate in a long time’. Visiting from Benoni, Robbie Carelse said ‘it was very bad’.
Ugu spokesman, Sipho Khuzwayo, confirmed that the water was not sewage.
“Faulty internal plumbing in the lifeguard tower is the cause of excessive water flowing out onto the lifeboat launching ramp,” he said.
He said all plumbing and building maintenance at this site is carried out by the Hibiscus Coast Municipality and the official in charge of the lifeguards has been advised to have this fault repaired.
