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Durban Shores Shuttered: “Beach Bolletjies” and Pollution Crisis Spur Recreational Bans

Published January 11, 2025
1 months ago

The city of Durban has imposed bans on swimming, fishing, and other recreational activities at major tourist spots, including Umhlanga Main Beach, Bronze Beach, and Blue Lagoon, following severe environmental concerns. The mysterious appearance of sand-coated spheres, informally dubbed "beach bolletjies," alongside critical levels of sewage pollution, has incited urgent actions by municipal authorities.





At the heart of this environmental emergency are the bolletjies, golf-ball-sized objects which surfaced under Umhlanga's iconic Whalebone Pier and later found near a stormwater outlet. Preliminary analyses suggest these could be “fat bergs,” aggregates of oil and grease washed from nearby restaurants. However, their true nature remains under scrutiny by eThekwini’s Scientific Services Division. Despite local speculations linking them to human waste, there is no confirmation, prompting authorities to caution against spreading unverified information.


Simultaneously, Durban faces a pollution crisis at Blue Lagoon, a pivotal site for both leisure and subsistence activities, which now suffers from hazardous E. coli levels following sewage spills into the Umgeni River. This distressing situation is attributed partially to infrastructure vandalism and illicit sewer connections, exacerbated by April 2022's devastating floods. Despite the handover of wastewater management to uMngeni-uThukela Water in November 2023, persistent overflows suggest significant systemic failures.


In response to the crisis, the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment issued a Coastal Compliance Notice, leading to the comprehensive ban on aquatic activities from the Umngeni Estuary to the non-bathing beach at Blue Lagoon. The city has also launched an exhaustive investigation to identify and rectify the sewage discharge sources, indicating possible starting points at the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works’ damaged infrastructure.


The municipality's immediate measures include intensive cleanup operations and ongoing water quality assessments to ensure public safety. The closure at Umhlanga beaches, initially sparked by the beach bolletjies, was briefly lifted on January 9, following findings of minor faecal contamination and a scheduled cleanup to remove the peculiar balls. Nonetheless, public vigilance remains critical, with city officials urging residents to report any infrastructure tampering.


As Durban battles this urgent environmental challenge, the impact on local tourism and the livelihoods dependent on these waters underscores a critical need for sustainable infrastructure solutions and community cooperation in addressing and preventing future ecological crises.


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