DURBAN - THE Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has confirmed diving and angling have been temporarily suspended after a malfunctioning sewage pump station resulted in raw sewage flowing into Durban harbour.
This comes after eThekwini Municipality announced that the city authorities were aware of the sewage flowing into the Durban harbour via Lavender Creek and that staff were working hard to resolve the issue.
“This is as a result of the Mahatma Gandhi pump station being flooded due to load shedding. This damaged the pumping equipment resulting in this unfortunate situation,” said municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela.
In a statement acting harbour master Captain Pinky Zungu said TNPA has suspended all diving operations within the port of Durban and is prohibiting all angling activity upon instruction from the Office of the Harbour Master: Port of Durban.
Zungu said the ban was implemented on Saturday, November 6, and will remain in place until repairs at the City’s Mahatma Gandhi sewer pump-station are effected.
“The breakdown of pumps at the municipal facility has led to the extensive discharge of sewage into the harbour, posing a severe risk to diving personnel and marine life. The matter has also been escalated to the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries,” she said.
Zungu added the TNPA’s environmental department is engaging with the municipality and is appealing to port users for their co-operation as the city acts to contain the discharge.
THE MERCURY