BEACHGOERS who were at Battery Beach at the weekend were shocked to see a red substance flowing into the ocean from a stormwater outlet.
Reports of the incident prompted Ward 27 councillor Martin Meyerm to call on the Environmental Health Department to investigate.
Meyer said he had heard reports that people who were swimming and surfing in the area as well as those who were competing in a triathlon at the time had fallen ill.
“I reported it to the Environmental Health Department and am following up on the issue,” he said.
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A video and images were posted on social media on 2 March by local surfer, Siraj Paruk who said the plume extended for hundreds of meters beyond the bathing area. He said the discharge was still continuing at sunset.
Commenting on his post, Paruk said: “The total lack of respect for our environment that we witness every day is absolutely appalling. Extensive education and enforcement is needed to change the ways of the people.”
He said he had reported the matter to the relevant authorities and hoped the officials were able to identify the source and hold the polluter accountable.
Meyer urged anyone who was in the area who had fallen ill, or anyone who had more photos of the incident or had some idea of what the substance was or where it had come from, to contact him urgently at ward27@ethekwini.org.
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