eThekwini Municipality Dismisses Concerns Over Poor Water Quality at Some Durban Beaches
- As the festive season approaches, holiday makers start making heir ways to the beach for some much needed relax and relaxation
- This festive season, beach goers are cautioned against swimming in 15 Durban beaches due to poor water quality
- The eThekwini municipality however assured the public that its beaches are safe this festive season
Source: Getty Images
DURBAN- Beach goers are advised to avoid 15 Durban beaches whose water quality showed poor bacterial levels, this festive season., however the eThekwini municipality has assured the public that the beaches are safe during this festive season.
According to The Citizen, the municipality conducted water quality tests on 12 and 26 November 2025, show E. coli and Enterococcus levels far above international standards. This raised severe concerns that over the mount of feacal matter in the water especially during the coming festive season.
The 15 Beaches mentioned are:
- Westbrook
- Casuerina (Tongaat)
- La Mercy
- Umdloti Tidal Area
- Umdloti main
- Umdloti South
- Umhlanga Rocks Bronze, Main, Granny’s Pool and Lighthouse
- Glenashley
- Virginia
- Beachwood
- Umlaas
- Umkomaas
Most beaches that are unsafe are flagged as in Durban's north coast unsafe, such as Westbrook, where E. coli levels reached 909 cfu/100ml and Enterococcus 1 725 cfu/100ml on 25 November. According to water quality standards, the results rate as “poor”.
Source: Getty Images
eThekwini Municipality assures the public that the beaches are safe
The municipality released a statement informing the public and the 1.3 million visitors expected that they have taken extensive measures to ensure holidaymakers and visitors enjoy a pleasant festive season in Durban. They also provided information on water quality, stating:
"The beach water quality is continuously monitored by a team of expert scientists at all beaches to ensure that Durban complies with water quality and safety standards. Currently, all 23 bathing beaches are safe for swimming following recent tests."
The municipality cautioned beach goers against swimming under the influence of alcohol and diving off the pier.
3 Briefly News articles on the Durban beach
In earlier reports, Briefly noted that a black mamba was rescued from a Durban beach. A security company, the Suburban Control Centre, shared a video on their Facebook page of a mamba swimming in the waves. The video, posted on November 24, 2025, showed beach patrol personnel working diligently to keep beachgoers safe while the snake enjoyed the surf. Once the snake tired itself out, a handler safely captured it and placed it in a container to ensure public safety. South Africans reacted humorously, with some joking that the snake had come to the coast for a much-needed vacation after a difficult year.
In another exciting event, a video of a whale breaching the ocean's surface in Durban brought joy to many South Africans. Briefly News reported that the footage captured the delight of onlookers, with many praising the beauty of Durban's marine life.
Footage from Durban showing a crowded beachfront also went viral on TikTok. Locals shared how the area looked during the festive season, with barely any walking space as people flocked to the beach and swimming pools to cool off in the warm weather. The video garnered a lot of attention, with one viewer commenting that watching the crowd gave her anxiety. Others noted that the current state of the beachfront was a stark contrast to its former glory.
Source: Briefly News
