Warning: More high rising water expected at Durban beaches

DURBAN’S North Beach remains out of bounds to the public following the big waves that battered the beachfront on Sunday. With more high rising water expected this afternoon, municipal officials at a media conference earlier today, urged the public to stay away from the area until wave activity returned to normal.

Massive clean-up operations were underway and it is expected that businesses operating along the promenade will shut down until things return to normal.

The extreme weather conditions which are a result of a cyclone system off Madagascar, left three people injured.

Head of eThekwini Municipality’s Parks, Recreation and Culture unit, Thembinkosi Ngcobo said: “Whenever we issue warnings, people must heed those warning. We warned the public about the possibility of high waves before the storm hit, but people ignored the warnings because they wanted to come down and take pictures and post them on social media. The city city will not be held responsible for those injured.”

Ngcobo said the city was still assessing the extent and cost of the damage caused but expected it to run into millions of rands.

Thembinkosi Ngcobo head of eThekwini Municipality’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit speaks to our reporter.