Reopening Durban beaches will put ‘billions’ into tourism
The Durban tourism sector has received a shot in the arm with the reopening of beaches that were closed due to sewage spillage into the Indian Ocean, with hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to inject more than R2bn into the provincial economy during the Easter long weekend.
In a report dated March 30 “Beach water quality results”, of eThekwini’s 24 beaches, only four — Reunion, Winklespruit, Warner Beach and Ansteys — remain closed due to high E.Coli levels, while 29 swimming pools remain open.
Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) president Prasheen Maharaj said on Tuesday that because most beaches are now safe for swimming, it “is positive news for the tourism sector and businesses, especially as we approach the Easter weekend. The beaches serve as a critical drawcard over busy seasons, translating to positive economic spin-offs.
“Given that most beaches are open, we expect a bumper long weekend. Beaches provide an array of economic benefits for the city and can be a catalyst to position us as an international and domestic destination of choice through appropriate marketing. According to Durban Tourism, occupancy is expected to be at 65% and 1,241,790 visitors are expected,” Maharaj said.
“Direct spending is projected to be R2,338,554,430 with a GDP contribution of R5,785,557,290. The economic activity generated through the tourism sector creates a multiplier effect. Benefits include attracting tourists and generating employment, including casual jobs throughout the season in the city. We can expect to see a surge in demand for accommodation, transport, banking, restaurants, and catering right through to entertainment and other tourist attractions,” the DCCI president said.
Indirect spin-offs include the showcasing of Durban’s lush and diverse topography and landscape: “This is a positive step for us as a city of eThekwini, and the business community.”
Ethekwini metro spokesperson Lindiwe Khuzwayo did not respond immediately to questions about the economic effects of the closure of beaches and progress made in improving infrastructure that was responsible for the sewage spill.
Durban has earned its position as one of SA’s most popular year-round tourist destinations for its expansive beaches and sunny climate. The city and province have suffered billions of rand in damage to business and tourism since the Covid-19 pandemic and the July 2021 unrest and looting.
In 2021 there was mounting pressure from business, tourism and the public over a raw sewage spill into Durban harbour, which posed a threat to beaches along the popular golden mile coastline and prompted the eThekwini municipality to have all key pump stations made exempt from load-shedding.
In June 2021, the main pump station in the heart of the upmarket tourist and business hub at Umhlanga’s McCausland Crescent, north of the city, malfunctioned and led to a wastewater spillage.
During the 2021 July unrest, looters set fire to a warehouse leased by United Phosphorus, causing agrochemicals and pesticides to spill into the Ohlanga River, Umhlanga Estuary and the sea. Generations of marine life were destroyed and the entire marine ecosystem severely damaged.
Meanwhile, TimesLIVE reported on Tuesday that ActionSA’s legal bid to compel the eThekwini municipality and relevant government departments to sort out the sewage crisis in the metro was going ahead. That was after a mediation process — proposed by the government respondents — failed.
The city has now filed an opposing affidavit. ActionSA councillor Alan Beesley told TimesLIVE all papers, including heads of argument, had to be filed by mid-June after which ActionSA could apply for a preferred date for hearing in the Durban high court. Beesley said during the mediation proceedings, the head of water and sanitation advised that the municipality had received R1.5bn in relief from the national government after the April 2022 floods.
The official confirmed there was no action plan and the city needed time to develop one.
“We advised that only R220m was allocated to water and sanitation. The city’s legal department did not know about the R1.5bn,” Beesley said.
“The mediation ended on the basis that this was problematic and it was agreed that the municipality must file its answering affidavit.
“Prior to receiving funds from national government, the municipality argued they had an action plan but no money. Their tune has now changed to they have the money but no action plan,” Beesley said.
In its court challenge, the political party is asking for a declaration that the government respondents’ failure to deal with the postflood sewage crisis — which has resulted in raw sewage flowing into rivers and the ocean and beaches having to be closed — is unconstitutional and contrary to environmental laws and bylaws.
It seeks orders compelling the respondents to deal with the situation and appoint independent sanitation experts, engineers and environmental specialists who must report back to the court on progress.