Durban - Three people drowned in separate incidents at the weekend, while more than 150 bathers were rescued after being washed out to sea when a big wave hit Addington Beach.
An Ixopo woman was also charged with attempted murder after she allegedly threw her 4-year-old daughter off the Bay of Plenty Pier on Sunday.
A man who saw the incident alerted a surfer and lifeguards on the beachfront. They rescued the toddler and brought her back to shore.
The 28-year-old mother was arrested on the pier and temporarily reunited with her daughter while police opened a docket.
A police source said the mother would be sent for mental evaluation and the child to a place of safety.
On Friday, a tidal surge at Addington Beach caused 150 people to be swept out to sea.
A man drowned and his body was recovered.
eThekwini lifeguards rescued the bathers and paramedics treated 40 people for near-drowning symptoms, but nobody needed to be hospitalised.
Later a National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Durban sea rescue craft responded to a call that a 5m ski-boat had capsized at the back-breaker line near the old whaling station.
On arrival, the boat was found washed ashore.
Two men were safely ashore and not injured.
At Cuttings Beach, Merebank, lifeguards reported that a man drowned on Thursday. His body was washed up the next day.
On Friday, the NSRI reported that a man had drowned at Salmon Bay in Ballito.
Daily News