Coast KZN

State of the Coast: KZN
State of the Coast: KZN

State of the Coast: KwaZulu-Natal Chapter 1: Introduction & Background Chapter 2: Overarching Drivers Chapter 3: Climate Variability
Chapter 4: Coastal Environment Chapter 5: Estuarine Environment Chapter 6: Marine Environment Chapter 7: Human Environment Chapter 8: Economic Environment
Chapter 9: Governance Environment Chapter 10: Conclusions
The Profile of the KZN Coast
The Profile of the KZN Coast

Ugu Lwethu- Our Coast Defining the Coastal Zone The Physical and Coastal Environment Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Coastal and Marine Species Migrations The Human Dimension Socio-Economic Uses of the Coast Commercial Resource Uses
Pressures and Threats Management of the Coastal and Marine Environments Understanding our Coast
Coastal access
Coastal access

Access RoutesBoat Launch SitesThe Human DimensionCoastal Access: Stats & Facts
Estuaries
Estuaries

What is an Estuary? Know your Estuaries Estuary Health and Conservation KZN Estuary Observer Programme
Historical Time Series Estuary Mouth Status Sand Mining
Recreation
Recreation

Fish TaggingAccess RoutesBlue Flag Beaches
Coastal risk and vulnerability
Coastal risk and vulnerability

Coastal Risk LinesExtreme EventsCoastal ErosionKZN Coastal Vulnerability IndexPollution
Coastal issues
Coastal issues

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25 Apr 2018

Climate change forces closure of popular Durban beaches

(eNCA) Picture: File: The eThekwini municipality has closed the North, Diary, Country Club and Battery beaches. Photo: AFP / Rajesh Jantila

“DURBAN – Four popular Durban beaches have been closed due to a shortage of sand as a result of erosion, according to eThekwini Municipality officials. “

Members of the public have been urged to stay away from North, Diary, Country Club and Battery beaches.

The city has started emergency sand replenishment and this is expected to continue for the next four weeks.

video: https://twitter.com/SiphamandlaGoge/status/988317453519290370

eThekwini officials said climate change and sand mining are depleting the beach sand.

The city’s deputy head of engineering, Randeer Kasserchun, said the shortage of sand would affect tourism in eThekwini.

“Durban is an artificial beach, we actually pump sand from the south side of the harbour onto the north side. We rely on the natural northern current to transport that material up the coast.

“A beach is required for tourism as well as other purposes … if there is no sand, there is no beach. There is an issue with tourism.” 

Kasserchun said that in the last few months the city had suffered severe erosion of sand due to abnormal weather conditions.

“We’ve done studies that have indicated that sand mining is definitely impacted by the amount of sand that’s actually available for us to replenish our beaches.”

He denied that the current shortage was due to lack of proper maintenance of the beaches.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a crisis but it’s basically an emergency. That’s the stance the city has taken. The city has treated this as an emergency and reacted accordingly,” said Kasserchum.

Online Article