Durban - The DA said i called on eThekwini’s head of water and sanitation, Ednick Msweli, to make public the results of the various water tests carried out in the city.
This follows the announcement by eThekwini’s mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, that all Durban beaches would be reopened by December 1.
The beaches were previously closed because of their poor water quality.
The Mercury’s sister publication, the Sunday Tribune, reported that Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda was confident all the Durban beaches would be ready by December 1.
Kaunda added that five beaches remained closed, and promised that repair work for all sanitation infrastructure would be completed before the festive season began.
Nicole Bollman, a DA eThekwini councillor, said the party was concerned following public announcements by Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda that the opening of the uMhlanga beaches was imminent owing to satisfactory water-quality readings and the long-awaited functionality of the Ohlange sewage pump station in Blackburn Village.
“Whether this misinformation to the public is deliberate or unintentional, an oversight conducted yesterday morning concluded that raw effluent is still pouring from various ‘hot spot’ areas along the Ohlange River. New outflows are evident, and the Ohlange sewage pump station lies dormant, only to become functional next week, a short three days from the December 1 ‘grand reopening’.”
Bollman added that there were currently millions of litres of polluted water in the uMhlanga lagoon, just north of one of the suburb’s main tourist beaches.
“Concerns remain as to the ecological and health-related catastrophe awaiting unassuming bathers, whether in uMhlanga or further up the coast in uMdloti, when this water finally breaks through.”
Bollman said the DA could neither confirm nor accept the reopening of beaches until such time as the various outflows had been contained.
“We need to ensure the Ohlange sewage pump station is fully operational, and that no further issues arise from potential threats along the line once the system has been turned on.”
Bollman added that the party was also concerned about lifeguards.
“Information at hand is that the professional lifeguards stationed at the three swimming beaches are not sufficiently equipped with operational equipment to effectively perform their duties. Should there be a crisis in the water, there would be a further risk to our bathers.”