Durban shuts four beaches due to pollution as festive rush starts, 19 still safe

Staff Reporter

Durban temporarily closed four popular bathing beaches on Thursday after detecting pollution, as the city braces for peak festive-season crowds.

The eThekwini Municipality said it had shut Blue Lagoon, eThekwini Beach, Country Club Beach and Battery Beach as a precautionary measure after “the detection of pollution”.

It did not specify what the pollution was.

A senior management team had been appointed to trace the source and implement mitigation. The beaches will remain closed pending further testing, it said.

The city said 19 other beaches remained open, with lifeguards on duty and a 2,000-strong Metro Police deployment working with national police to ensure a safe festive season.

Durban’s beachfront is a major drawcard in December. Mayor Cyril Xaba said last week the city expected about 1.3 million visitors over the summer period, generating R341 million in direct spending and an R845 million contribution to GDP.

The closures come amid