uMhlanga estuary exclusion zone still in place, says eThekwini Municipality
A specialist report is due in August which will inform the further closure or opening of the exclusion zone.
THE eThekwini Municipality has once again reminded the public to refrain from entering the exclusion zone 1km north and 1km south of the uMhlanga estuary.
The exclusion zone was imposed after the United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) warehouse in Cornubia was set on fire during the KZN unrest in July 2021 which led to a toxic chemical spill.
According to City spokesperson Lindiwe Khuzwayo, the closure between uMdloti (going south) and the uMhlanga estuary is under the Beaches Bylaws cl 10 (1) (c).
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“The area was initially closed because of the chemical spill from UPL following the riots in July 2021. The spill destroyed the ecosystems in the estuary. The exclusion zone was then put in place to minimise human traffic in the area so as to allow for animal and plant life to recover as quickly as possible and to facilitate monitoring of recovery.
“A specialist report due in August will inform the further closure or opening of the exclusion zone. The City and other authorities will scrutinise the report before re-evaluating the decision to close the exclusion zone. The authorities have no intention to keep the exclusion zone longer than absolutely necessary, but any re-opening must be informed by the science and recovery of the system,” she said.
Khuzwayo urged for patience and cooperation from the public while they work with other organs of state and UPL to restore the estuary.
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