eThekweni Municipality has issued the following aquatic safety information for the Toti festive season, which officially runs from 11 December to 10 January, in a bid to ensure festivities can be enjoyed safely by all visitors and locals alike.
Operational times at swimming beaches are from 6am to 6pm, which includes Reunion, Pipeline, Amanzimtoti, Warnadoone, Winklespruit and Umgababa beaches.
Temporary swimming beaches such as Inyoni north, between Toti and Pipeline, and Inyoni south, between Toti and Amanzimtoti River, are open from 8am to 5pm, as are non-swimming beaches such as Umbogintwini River mouth, Tiger Rocks, Twini, Baggies and Subway.
Aquatic safety personnel on duty will include one manager, one superintendent, one co-ordinator, three senior lifeguards, 20 lifeguards, 10 temporary lifeguards and 30 seasonal lifeguards.
The aquatic safety, law enforcement and beach cleaning operational centre is located at Amanzimtoti main beach. For emergencies, call 031-322-9034 or the Emergency Services Call Centre on 031-361-0000.
Separated children
At Amanzimtoti main beach and Umgababa beach, children will be issued with wrist bands.
Child minders will be deployed and separated children will be kept at the beach office. At all other beaches lifeguards will accommodate separated children at their respective facilities. Children not collected by 6pm will be taken to an overnight facility in Durban central.
Beach cleaning
Beaches will be cleaned daily, including on public holidays, from 6am to 6pm.
Public changerooms and toilets are open from 6am to 6pm. Depending on demand, facilities at busy beaches will remain open until 10pm.
Additional portable toilets placed at Umkomaas south bank, Winklespruit main beach, Toti promenade, Tiger Rocks north, Umgababa beach, Warner Beach sports field, Shad Place and Toti River mouth will be serviced every three days.
An additional 150 refuse bins will be deployed and serviced by Durban Solid Waste.
Beach law enforcement
Permanent staff will work in shifts from 8am to 5pm. Additional security guards will patrol at the Isipingo River mouth, Pipeline, Amanzimtoti main beach, Toti beach chain gates, Warner beach, Winklespruit and Umgababa.
A further 20 additional security guards will be deployed on 16, 26 and 31 December, and 1 and 2 January.
Beach Road access permits
Beach Road will be access-controlled by Metro Police on 16, 26 and 31 December, and 1 and 2 January, and any other date where the situation necessitates access control. “Permits will be issued to residents from the Metro Police kiosk on the corner of Carlisle and Beach roads from Thursday, 10 December. Take your ID, proof of address or proof of booking and car registration number to secure a permit,” said ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge.
Moth Hall beach
If you want to visit one of Toti’s best kept secrets, visit Moth Hall beach. Although not a swimming beach, it offers people a perfect alternative away from the crowds.
There is easy vehicle access in and out, with plenty of parking, which is guarded for your peace of mind. Tips would be welcome. Clean public toilets and outdoor showers are also available. One can enjoy pedestrian access to the nearby shops on the R102 through the clean and secure subway, which has recently been given a much-needed facelift.
Beach massages
Beach-goers can relax even more on Toti beaches this festive season with a massage. eThekwini Business Support Unit will issue permits to masseurs to service beach clientele with massages, from a tented salon on each of the Sapphire Coast beaches.
Candidates of sober habits (drug-free) can take copies of their certification, identity documents and proof of their local residential address to the Sapphire Coast Tourism committee for an interview. An invitation is also extended to mobile fresh fruit salad vendors and waterless car washers. For more details, call Kim on 082-213-3321 or email info@sapphirecoasttourism.co.za.
