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

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Coastal issues
Coastal issues

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23 Mar 2023

Most beaches remain closed

Vusi Mthalane (South Coast Sun) Picture: The Winklespruit Beach noticeboard.

Recently released updates from eThekwini Municipality show most South Coast beaches remain closed due to sewage contamination. Only Pipeline, Amanzimtoti Main and Umgababa are open to water activities. From Doonside to Karridene, all beaches remain closed as they have a high E. coli reading.

eThekwini Municipality has said they are working hard to ensure that all beaches are open to the public, and they will keep publishing updates as the status changes.

“You can still enjoy other recreational activities at closed beaches. You just can’t swim. Please keep our beach areas clean by using bins for litter,” read a statement from eThekwini.

Doreen Kuhn from Winklespruit said it was laughable that the municipality could encourage people to go to infected beaches to stand there and inhale smelly air.

“In my own house, I have to keep the windows closed at all times because of the smell. Just imagine the poor people who go down to the beach to smell raw sewage. So many people keep getting sick with chest ailments they have never had before, yet the municipality keeps denying that the infected air is making people sick,” said Doreen.

Winklespruit Beach looks deserted except for people sitting in their cars and admiring the waves from a safe distance. A noticeboard near the guardhouse simply displays ‘no swimming’, but according to Doreen, the sickly smell alone could drive anyone away.

eThekwini has encouraged people to use municipal swimming pools instead.

 

Online Article