Water-quality tests have revealed unsafe E. coli levels in the seawater at several beaches along the Durban coastline.

Twelve beaches across eThekwini have been closed with immediate effect due to high levels of E. coli in the water.

Westbrook, uMhlanga Main, uMdloti, Casuarina, eThekwini Beach, Laguna Seasonal Beach, Anstey’s Beach, Brighton Beach, Isipingo Beach, Reunion Beach, Warner Beach, Amanzimtoti Main Beach, and Pipeline Beach are closed after recent water-quality tests confirmed the presence of sewage in the water.

“All water activities such as swimming, surfing, fishing, bathing, canoeing, and other activities taking place at City beaches are therefore prohibited. Beachgoers are urged to heed this warning as disregarding it could result in outbreaks of waterborne diseases,” explained municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela.

He added that lifeguards and law enforcement officers will be on-site to monitor the beaches to ensure the public adheres to the closures.

“Residents can still enjoy other activities along the beach that do not require them to come into contact with seawater. The public will be notified when the beaches are deemed safe to utilise,” Mayisela said.

The beaches weren’t the only bodies of water to be affected by alarmingly high E. coli levels.

On Monday, scores of dead fish were found floating in the Umgeni River, and several of the fish had also washed up on the banks of the river.

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