WATCH: Possible sewage contamination has golfers worried

A SEWAGE spill at Windsor Park has been left unattended for several years, golfers claim, and seems to have exacerbated over the years.

Two golfers, Rob Hay of uMhlanga and Rob Cross of Durban North, told Northglen News that they are both concerned about the impact the spill has on the environment.

“There are birds and other animals that drink water from this stream. Apart from that it makes for an unpleasant golfing experience. I have been playing golf here for eight years and in the last two years, the spill has worsened,” said Hay.

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A stream at the fifth hole, where the sewage contamination is evident, flows into the uMngeni River, a river which is used for paddling and fishing.

“People eat this fish. I am also convinced that there is industrial waste spilling into the river,” said Cross who has been playing golf at the course for 30 years.

As golfers approach the fifth hole, the stench is unbearable. One golfer who had hit is ball into the stream, opted not to remove it as he could see (and smell) that the river was polluted.

At this stage, Hay and Cross don’t know where the sewage could be coming from, however they say there is a pump station near the vicinity of the train yard.

“We see toilet paper scattered around. You can even see it flowing down the stream. One thing is for sure. this spill has become more constant,” said Hay.

Both golfers agreed that the Windsor Park Golf Course is a beautiful course, and is a good representation of nature.

They say, a spill like this damages the image of the course and their playing experience as golfers have to cross the fifth hole twice in the first set of nine holes.

Delani Sangweni, the general supervisor of the golf park for the past six years, said he has reported the sewage spill to the eThekwini Municipality several times over the last three years.

“An official from the City comes to check on the upkeep of the golf course regularly. I have informed her about it, but nothing has been done to date.

The sewage seems to be coming from some where near the railway line, but the contamination has now gotten so bad that now it’s difficult to pin point the source,” said Sangweni.

He added that the driving range, situated at the entrance of Windsor Park Golf Course, also has a spillage of some sort but he was not certain if it was sewage or not.

“About two months ago, a small area on the driving range started to collect water. To me, it seems like there is water leaking from somewhere and on most days, it stinks quiet badly. My main concern is that these issues are going to deter players,” he said.

“On a daily average, about 30 players frequent the golf course and on a busy weekend, we see about 120 golfers per day. If this problem is not sorted out soon, it will have a negative impact on our numbers,” said Sangweni.

The eThekwini Municipality was approached for comment but none was forthcoming at the time of publishing.