STENCH, decay and unfulfilled obligations to the environment define the state of one of the community’s natural jewels, the Amanzimtoti Country Club and Conservancy.

The club has been embattled since the April 2022 floods, when the eThekwini Municipality merged the sewage overflow with the stormwater pipes in a temporary measure meant to protect estuarine flora and fauna.

Also read: Section of the Southern Aqueduct commissioned

The club has moved the entrance back due to a pool of raw sewage greeting visitors and golfers. The eZimbokodweni estuary, which runs through the golf course, is almost entirely contaminated due to an inoperable pump station opposite the entrance.

Amanzimtoti Golf Club captain, Mike Halse, explained that just before the April 2022 floods, the pump station opposite the country club would work intermittently and incorrectly. After the floods, it has ceased functioning entirely.

What do Municipal by-laws state?

According to stormwater management by-laws, it is illegal to discharge anything likely to contaminate water in the stormwater system.

The by-laws further state that no stormwater may enter the sewage disposal system. They also require the municipality to remove anything discharged into the water system in contravention of these regulations and to repair any damage caused to the system.

The club has spent years attempting to resolve the issue, working with the municipality in search of a solution. However, what was intended as temporary relief by the City has, over time, become the primary source of the club’s ongoing difficulties.

Also read: City apologises for sewage predicament

“Contractors working on behalf of the municipality carried out work along Golf Course Road, but the project was later halted due to apparent administrative issues. From what I understand, the project was close to completion before it came to a stop,” said Halse.

Since then, over a dozen faults were logged with no joy. Halse has taken countless photographs and videos showing raw sewerage running into the lagoon.

The club recently held its annual Bridge Golf Day, which serves as a major fundraiser to continue improving the club, course and conservancy for the community to enjoy.

Despite its success, Halse explained that it is marred by frequent complaints from golfers who do not want to return to play due to the unhygienic situation and the smell of the sewage permeating wherever the estuary meets the golf course.

Also read: PICTURES: Flooding on the South Coast

“Bird life is gone and animal life is suffering. We need to get some kind of reaction to try and get some work done and for this matter to be resolved,” said Halse.

eThekwini Municipality responds

The City has been approached for comment, however, media relations officer Luthando Ngubane indicated that according to the responsible superintendent, the matter has already been resolved. Halse said it is far from the truth and the pump station continues spilling sewage into the conservancy.

The municipality’s solution during the past weeks has been sending out honeysucker trucks to safely extract and transport the sewage to wastewater treatment sites.

eThekwini Executive Committee member, councillor André Beetge, said that at the next council meeting he will demand accountability from eThekwini Water and Sanitation.

Also read: Ward 97 sewage crisis update

Beetge conducted an oversight inspection on May 21 and following that, engagements were held with municipal officials to better understand the underlying challenges and the proposed interventions required to resolve the matter.

“In the interim, commitments have been made towards ongoing waste removal and clearing operations to mitigate the environmental and public health impact. We have formally requested that an urgent status update and comprehensive action plan be tabled within the next week,” said Beetge.

Devastation after the April floods

The eZimbokodweni River flows straight through the middle of the Amanzimtoti Country Club and Conservancy and as such, during the April 2022 floods, water surged through the clubhouse and other buildings, devouring much of the course, carrying away its two bridges linking two parts of the course, and destroying dozens of golf carts.

Also read: WATCH: Aftermath of KZN floods

Such devastation also struck the course in 1973, when, due to industrial development in the area, the Isipingo and eZimbokodweni rivers were diverted to join and flow into the lagoon estuary.

The flooding of the two rivers almost wiped the course out when the river rose more than 2m. It broke away chunks of fairways, tore trees from their roots, and swept away a then recently erected metal bridge.

The club experienced two further floods, in 1977 and 1987.

For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.

Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.