eThekwini municipality in race against time to ensure closed beaches reopen soon

DURBAN—The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality says its teams are working to resolve the closure of some of its beaches.  
 
Last week, the metro announced the temporary closure of four bathing beaches due to pollution.  
 
This has raised concerns as holidaymakers are expected to visit the city during this festive season.  
 
Authorities said a broken pump and ageing infrastructure had led to the crisis. 
 
The municipality said 21 of the 23 bathing beaches were fully operational.  
 
This is after the Battery and Bay of Plenty beaches were declared safe for swimming following their temporary closure last week. 
 
However, the Ansteys and Reunion beaches remain closed.  
 
The city’s governance MMC Nkosenhle Madlala explained: “We now know that the closure of the beaches was due to some burst pipes, sewer pipes. We’ve been assured that teams are on the ground as we speak, fixing. We had given the deadline of the coming weekend that everything will be cleared.”  

Madlala has committed that all beaches will be safe for swimming during the upcoming December holidays.