Durban - Durban’s storm-lashed and debris-strewn beaches have been closed to bathing.
Tons of rubbish, including vegetation, condoms, sanitary pads and medicine containers were flushed down the uMngeni River and on Tuesday covered beaches at Blue Lagoon.
The sea between uShaka Beach and Blue Lagoon was a muddy brown on Wednesday.
eThekwini Municipality spokeswoman, Tozi Mthethwa, said the beaches had been closed as a precaution to ensure the safety of residents and holidaymakers.
“There is extensive structural damage on Durban’s beaches following heavy rains that started on Sunday. There is also a huge amount of flotsam and jetsam, as well as organic matter in the water,” she said on Tuesday.
Mthethwa said a “major clean-up operation” would be undertaken.
“The public will be notified once the beaches have been re-opened,” said Mthethwa.
Duzi uMngeni Conservation Trust field manager, Bart Fokkens, said he had put booms across the river upstream in an effort to prevent debris from reaching the sea and landing on to the beach.
He said the trust planned a mass clean-up on Saturday and called on the public to assist.
There was an upside to the heavy rains, he said.
“Floods to the beach create job opportunities because people have to be hired to clean up garbage flushed by rivers.”