eThekiwni rubbishes UShaka sewage claims
The eThekwini Municipality has rubbished claims that sewage is being pumped onto uShaka beach.
Instead, the city said it has been busy with sand pumping operations on the beachfront close to the harbour mouth.
Sand pumping is done annually to provide a buffer between the beach and infrastructure.
The municipality said it also helps maintain the beach keeping it in pristine condition for beach goers.
Spokesperson Lindiwe Khuzwayo says the harbour breakwaters prevent the natural migration of sand from the south to the north along the beachfront making sand pumping a necessary activity.
"If the city did not pump sand, our beaches would erode away with the action of the waves. Continuous beach monitoring programmes are in place to provide sediment data on the beaches which guide the sand pumping scheme," Khuzwayo said.
She said the foamy substance in the water occurs naturally due to turbulence and is not harmful.
"The darker colour of the sand is because of naturally occurring minerals such as quartz, feldspar, titanium and ilmenite which is black in colour. This should not be confused with oil or a sewage spill.”
The public are cautioned to avoid the area where the sand is being pumped, especially towards the water’s edge as the sand is soft and liquified and could act as quicksand.
