Durban beaches remain closed as threats of waterborne diseases increase

This is following the deadly floods in KwaZulu-Natal which claimed more than 430 lives.

Diseases such as Hepatitis and Cholera have been identified

Sipho Hlomuka, the Cooperative Governance MEC has asked the people of KwaZulu-Natal to be extra cautious when collecting water from natural sources. He said tests have shown a presence of contaminants which lead to diseases like Hepatitis and Cholera.

“Most water resources, rivers in eThekwini District have been found to have significantly high percentage of water contamination due to raw sewage spillages owing to water trapments and water infrastructure damage. This increases the risk of potential outbreak of waterborne diseases,” said Hlomuka.

Msawakhe Mayisela, the Municipal spokesperson said water tests were being carried out on a daily basis, and people would be informed as soon as the levels of E coli bacteria drop. “We sincerely apologise for this inconvenience, but we must all be mindful that it is in the interest of safety, and our city is doing everything in its power to ensure that the situation returns to normal with speed,” he said.

Residents urged not to come into contact with the water

E coli may be found in contaminated water sources with faeces from infected animals or humans, and this can cause waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, amebiases, hepatitis, and gastroenteritis. Residents can still enjoy the activities which are available near the beachfront provided they do not come in contact with the water.

Source: IOL, Eyewitness News, East Coast Radio, image from IOL

Doctor Mahlaule

Doctor Mahlaule previously worked as a Freelance Journalist at Find-it SA where he was responsible for writing news articles and sharing them on social media platforms. Doctor Mahlaule holds a Diploma in Journalism, BA in Communication Science and a BA Honours in Media Studies. Doctor began his journey as a knowledge Management and Communications Intern at Zenex Foundation. He was responsible for support in event management, social media, website maintenance, writing and brand management. On weekends Doctor attends prison ministry and shares the scriptures with inmates at Krugersdorp prison and plays soccer in the afternoon on some weekends. He has a passion for reading and writing and enjoys going out with friends and socialising in his spare time. He has a one-year-old son and is planning on getting married soon. When asked about what keeps him going, he said: “My family keeps me going. I’m the man I am because I come from a loving home. I have a very supportive family who always encourages me to keep pushing hard.”

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