Durban’s array of beaches have been temporarily closed off to the public following the appearance of a murky substance in the waters, rendering the popular spots unsafe for visitors.
eThekwini Municipality heeds call to close beaches
The closure of Durban’s beaches comes in the wake of advisement from the Natal Sharks Board, which pointed out the unsafe conditions caused by murky waters filled with logs and other hazardous objects.
This sudden change in water conditions is attributed to the recent spell of heavy rains in the area.
The murky water, besides posing a direct threat, has led to damage to the shark nets installed at most of these beaches, further escalating the risk for the public.
The eThekwini Municipality, overseeing the coastal city, has hence decided to prohibit all water activities until the conditions improve.
While the water is off-limits, visitors can still engage in other recreational activities along the beach that do not involve contact with the seawater.
The municipality urged beachgoers to adhere to this precautionary measure for their safety.
These Durban beaches are not open for swimming
The list of affected beaches includes:
- Thekwini Beach
- Durban Beach
- Suncoast Beach
- Battery Beach
- Snake Park Beach
- Durban Beach Front
- North Beach
- Wedge Beach
- Golden Mile Beach
- South Beach
- Addington Beach
Teams have been deployed to repair the broken shark nets and other infrastructure damaged by the heavy rains.
Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) forecasts for Thursday, 19 October 2023, suggest cloudy and cool conditions in KZN with isolated showers and rain in the eastern regions.
The wind along the coast is expected to be gentle to moderate southerly to south-easterly, transitioning to easterly to north-easterly in the afternoon.
