Home PodcastJulie Alli Tourism industry suffers as beaches remain closed

Tourism industry suffers as beaches remain closed

by Salaamedia Intern

KZN – The tourism industry has been heavily impacted in KwaZulu-Natal after the closure of beaches due to the high levels of E. coli. Earlier this week, the Natal Sharks Board closed the southern beaches from Isipingo to Umgababa. 

According to Andre Beetge, Ward 97 councillor, this was not related to sewage or high levels of E. coli in the water. Rather, it is a safety measure from the Natal Sharks Board due to low visibility. Due to the recent weather, sand and mud has been washed into the beach which has reduced the visibility in the water.

“The closure of the beaches  was not a result of the sewage but rather as a result of the mud that has been entering the sea. We’ve been having inclement weather for the last couple of days. So you get the wash of sand and mud that comes out and then that distorts the visibility of the water and then that enhances the possibility of a shark attack.”

However, the situation of sewage flowing into the sea still persists. The heavy rains can either have a positive or negative impact on the level of E. coli in the ocean, explained Beetge.

“We still have the situation with the sewage. With the water coming down after the rain, you can either have one of two. You can have a dilution or you can have an enhancement in the E. coli levels. It all depends on what it comes down with.” 

 

The beaches, the mayor and his challenge

The city has declared quite a number of beaches as safe due to the levels of E. coli being acceptable. However, there are still a number of beaches that are not safe. In an effort to prove the beaches are safe, the eThekwini Mayor took a dive in the beach which proved to not be a popular decision with the locals.

“The challenge went to the mayor to actually swim in the sea at uMhlanga because the week before during a sitting of the executive committee he then made the announcement that the uMhlanga beaches were safe. The E. coli count was of such that people could enter the water. That morning we went upstream and we found that there was actually still quite a bit of outpour. The mayor, in his wisdom, decided to move his dipping in the sea to an adjacent beach where the E. coli levels were acceptable.”

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Tourism and how it has been impacted

About two thirds of the beaches are opened and the E. coli levels are being checked on a weekly basis, said Beetge. The resulting impact from the E.  coli outbreak has significantly impacted tourism in Durban. The city is now racing to ensure everything is up to code before the festive season begins.

“It has had a knock-on effect on tourism, absolutely. We could see the drop in numbers as a result thereof and hence the fact that there’s been the pressure on the city to get the situation resolved timely before the start of the festive season. They have not really succeeded in that. Like I said about two-thirds of beaches are open and then you’ve got the influx of the rain. You never know what comes down the river and what’s going on higher up.”

 

The work taking place to fix the infrastructure

The harsh truth is the system is old, it is frail and it is in dire need of maintenance, said Beegte. Work is being done to solve the issues. This is seen in the fact that two-thirds of beaches have opened. However, due to budget restraints, these are just minor fixes. The municipality does not have the funds to carry out the full repair work that is needed.

“Budgetary constraints are definitely playing a role. At the moment they are re-prioritizing from other projects. So somewhere some people have to go on to the back burner in favour of fixing the sewage infrastructure or at least let’s not say fixing but putting a band-aid on so that we can at least go forward. To replace all of it, we’re talking probably in the region of R100 billion which nobody has lying around. The city would have to start looking at that but for the moment the band-aid is there. It’s not that there’s nothing being done.”

Beegte hopes to get the pump station in Amanzimtoti fixed by this week which will allow the southern beaches and most of the Bluff to be open. However, beaches in the northern areas will still remain a problem. The pumps in uMhlanga still need to be repaired fully.

While some beaches are still closed, Beegte has urged all to come down to Durban. Even if one doesn’t feel safe swimming, the beaches are fine to walk on and there are many other attractions to be found and visited. The hope is that the pumps will be repaired and the beaches will be fine in time for the festive season which is right around the corner.

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