CUTTINGS Beach was cordoned off on Saturday, 7 February when a massive spill of debris and chemicals washed down the Umlaas Canal.
South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) co-ordinator, Desmond D’Sa attended the site at about 9am. “I was called by KZN Subsistence Fishermen. They had to abandon their fishing as raw sewage, chemicals and debris affected all who were present at the beach. We had to request many young people who were swimming in the canal and the beach to leave the area,” he said.
D’Sa then called eThekwini pollution and environment manager, Chris Fennemore, who sent an official to take water samples. The Sun sent a request for information on the spill to Fennemore but was not received by the time of going to print.
“The entire beach was affected and the rip current was taking this sewage and debris onto Brighton and Ansteys Beaches,” said D’Sa. He then called Metro Police South, who cordoned off Cuttings Beach.As of Monday, 9 February, the debris was still affecting the South Durban beaches and many beachgoers had to stay clear of the polluted water.
