Durban community weighs in on Rachel Finlayson Pool repairs

THE festive season is around the corner, and the eThekwini Municipality is preparing to welcome thousands of holiday-makers to the coast.

Ongoing sewage leaks have plagued Durban since the April and May floods, adding to the city’s ailing infrastructure.

Berea Mail took to the promenade to ask the public what they think of the recent beach closures, Mayor Mxolisi Kauda’s recent visit at North Beach, and the City’s plans to repair the once-popular Rachel Finlayson Pool.

Mhlengi Zuma, a local entrepreneur

“A lot of people come here asking about the pool. If this pool is renovated, it will be great. It impacts my business (eco-friendly car wash) because a lot of people don’t come to the beach anymore. There are some surfers who still come to the beach, but the pool is more important for children. I used to swim at this pool often. I prefer the pool because I am safe. At the beach, the waves can pull you out, so I feel safer swimming in the pool. You can see the pool is getting dirty because it’s not being used anymore. I feel bad about the beach closures this year because it’s affected my business, but I think it’s good that the mayor came out and swam in the ocean this week.”

ALSO READ: City announces plans to repair Rachel Finlayson Pool

Victoir Mpwanga, an out-of-town visitor

“If the pool is operational, it gives visitors another option – sometimes, you don’t feel like swimming in salt water. The whole point of being in Durban is to be on the beach, so with the recent beach closures, one can’t get close to that. I think the mayor’s swim was part of a marketing scheme – let’s see how he feels in a few days. If he’s still good, I think we should all take his word for it. I would still recommend Durban as a place to visit because I like the weather here. Even when the skies are cloudy, it still feels hot.”

ALSO READ: WATCH: eThekwini Mayor takes a swim at festive season launch

Trevor Martin, organiser of Dolphin Mile swim series

“The mayor was swimming when the water was contaminated. Talbot had just done tests – they usually take samples on a Thursday and the results are out on a Monday. The results this Monday showed high E. coli levels. As far as I am concerned, it’s too late to address this in December – it should have been addressed in June/July. The effect of beach closures on the Durban tourism market is going to be dire. The City has no plan – they haven’t given residents an outline of a plan. Another annual swimming event, 25 Pier at North Beach, was cancelled this weekend due to high E. coli levels.”