Following a damaging spill at the Durban port nearly two weeks ago - which led to complaints of a foul stench from people using the yacht mole facilities - the pollution problems at the harbour persist.
Despite last Tuesday’s storm “flushing away” some of the spill, on Thursday the yacht mole at the Royal Natal Yacht club remained polluted with plastic and other rubbish.
The city confirmed that a second sewage spill had taken place, on Tuesday this week.
A city statement issued by spokesperson Tozi Mthethwa said: “A technical issue at the Mahatma Gandhi Wastewater Pump Station resulted in sewage overflowing into Lavender Creek canal near the Durban Yacht Club. The competent authorities were notified duly and all our teams are on site.”
The statement said the root cause in terms of mechanical or electrical issues was being investigated and addressed.
It said the overflow was being dosed with hydrogen peroxide and mechanical aeration of the canal would take place.
“Water quality monitoring will also take place. Residents are advised to stay clear of the water.”
The cause of the previous spill was damage to the same pump station.
In a Mercury report, members of the yachting community and environmental experts attributed the problem to ageing infrastructure.
Transnet Ports Authority had called for a root-cause analysis of the problem with the pump house and other infrastructure that required maintenance.
On Thursday heavy winds blew more rubbish up on to the embankment near the club on the port side.