THE news and images of the shocking erosion along Durban’s beachfront was met with shock and outrage by beachgoers who expressed anger and concern on social media last week.
People lashed out at the municipality for blaming global warming for the lack of maintenance, with one resident claiming that the demise of the beachfront was on the horizon due to the lack of action by the municipality who had been warned in 2009 of the rampant erosion.
Berea Mail spoke to visitors at the beachfront on Monday morning as waves crashed up against sand bags that have been placed along the promenade.
ALSO READ: Erosion puts Durban beaches on red alert
Gonum Moodley said she felt the beachfront needed urgent improvement. “Sometimes you don’t know if you are going to be washed away when you’re walking on the promenade. It’s not safe. The municipality needs to do something, it is slack. I’m scared someone is going to be washed away.” she said.
A visitor from Cape Town, Kevin Rowlands, said he and his family visit Durban at least a dozen times in a year, and he had noticed the deterioration of the beachfront.
“It’s ridiculous. We have seen how the beach is being washed away. The municipality needs to put money back into fixing this issue,” he said.
Leanne Nogueira said she was saddened to see how the beachfront had deteriorated.
“It’s been like this for months and it keeps getting worse. There is nothing left of the beach. The municipality needs to pump sand back, not sweep sand onto the beach as it has been said they are doing. This is a tourist attraction – what do people think of Durban when they see it like this, and in pictures on social media? There’s sand bags and rocks, the beach has been washed away, I’m lost for words, it is so sad!” she said.
Schalk Pienaar said he felt the beach was looking terrible. “The municipality need to build it up as it is dangerous at high tide. The problem lies with the municipality,” he said.
“The sea is taking the land back and taking the pump house and lifesaving tower with it!” said Arlene McIlroy. She said there was no beach left, and people couldn’t sit on the sand anymore. “We just need one more big storm and it will be a disaster!” she said.
Arlene’s surfer son, Keegan, said he thought the waves would eventually take away the whole promenade. “With this erosion, the waves are going to take everything with them!” he said.
ALSO READ: Durban on brink of change as promenade extension commences
Tebogo Moshugi, a visitor from Soweto, said this was the third time she had been in Durban and that she enjoyed visiting to unwind.
“I have seen the difference each time I have visited,” she said.
Despite warnings in 2009 that sand augmentation was essential to maintain the Durban beachfront, eThekwini Municipality is now facing the problem of increased erosion of the beachfront. The issue was brought to light recently by concerned resident, James Lea, who wrote to the municipality stating that the Durban city coastal region required sand. His complaints were echoed by researcher, Lisa Guastella, surfer, Mike Frew and paddle skier, Johnny Vassilaros.
Responding to queries, eThekwini Municipality said the municipality was aware of the problem, however it said there was no shortage of sand but that sand capacity on the beaches had been affected by the recent inclement weather changes.
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