Westbrook Beach reclaims its shores after sewage nightmare ends
The eThekwini municipality has repaired the broken sewage pump at Westbrook Beach, installing two new motors at the start of the month. This unblocked the sewer lines, which had previously seen raw effluent overflowing from manholes and drains.
The repairs mark a small but significant victory for residents, who have endured years of sewage-related problems, raising serious health and hygiene concerns.
When the Courier revisited the area in June, raw sewage was still flowing into the streets and directly beneath the lifeguard tower, before entering the ocean. A foul stench hung over the area.
Westbrook Better Together co-founder Salome Botes welcomed the news, calling it a positive step forward.
'We never gave up. We kept pressuring and nagging the municipality. Phoning and emailing daily to get the problem sorted out,' said Botes.
With the system now repaired, residents and visitors can once again enjoy the beach safely. Botes said it was a hard-won success for community activism and municipal co-operation.
Also read: Westbrook community group forms to fight sewage scourge
Formed earlier this year, the Westbrook Better Together group set out to address what it described as a long-standing health and environmental crisis. The Farmhouse pump station on Spathodia Crescent had also suffered from years of neglect, theft and vandalism, turning nearby wetlands and gardens into a sewage swamp.
'We appreciate the municipality for helping sort out the issue. I am really happy, and the smell is gone,' she said.
Westbrook's main beach, once a proud Blue Flag destination, has faced frequent closures in recent years due to elevated E. coli levels.
Ward 58 councillor Geoff Pullan emphasised the importance of the beach to the local economy and tourism.
'As the premier tourist city, we are delighted to have these facilities back in action. The beach is once again open, which reignites our tourism industry,' he said.
Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.
Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Eskom schedules 10-hour power outage in this part of Gauteng
Due to planned maintenance, Eskom has scheduled a 10-hour power outage in Gauteng. The maintenance is scheduled for Thursday, 21 August, from 8:00 to 18:00. Eskom said there will be an electricity supply disruption in Ga-Rankuwa in Tshwane due to maintenance that will be conducted on the distribution network. The power utility said the planned power cut will affect customers in Ga-Rankuwa Zones 20 and 21 on Thursday, 21 August, from 8:00 to 18:00. 'Eskom in Gauteng conducts planned maintenance on the distribution electricity network across the province as part of its maintenance plan. It is essential for maintenance to be conducted to service the infrastructure to ensure the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the electricity supply,' Eskom added. In the interest of safety, Eskom said customers should treat all electrical appliances as live at all times during the power outage. 'Eskom would like to thank you for your cooperation and apologises for any inconvenience that this maintenance may cause,' the power utility said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
7 hours ago
- The South African
Search goes SONAR for missing Durban plane crash pilot
The search and recovery operation for missing pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray, a veteran SAA and aerobatic flyer, has intensified this week as Police Search and Rescue divers, aided by advanced sonar equipment and coordinated support teams, continue their efforts along the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Blackwood-Murray, 61, from Johannesburg, remains missing following a light aircraft accident off the coast near Durban last Thursday afternoon. Authorities and volunteers are racing against time to recover key evidence and bring closure to the family. On Tuesday and Wednesday, an NSRI rescue craft, an SA Navy vessel, and Police Search and Rescue divers used advanced seabed mapping technology, specifically a NORBIT MULTI BEAM SONAR system. The equipment was provided by Johannesburg-based survey specialists SEA SHADOW, with operational assistance from Durban Marine. 'Their contribution to this search has been instrumental and is deeply appreciated,' said authorities. Adding to the efforts, local Good Samaritan Peter Jacobs from GARMIN joined the operation using a sport and recreational system aboard his private vessel, running additional grid searches to aid in sonar mapping. The intense recovery effort is being led by Police Search and Rescue and supported by: SA Navy divers Durban Underwater Club (DUC) A diver from RESCUE SA Metro Police Search and Rescue eThekwini lifeguards and authorities Metro Police remain on high alert along the coastline to secure and recover any wreckage that washes ashore. All wreckage retrieved is stored at a Metro Police hangar at Virginia Airport, where it is being catalogued and examined by the Accident and Incident Investigation Division (AIID) and SAPS investigators. Authorities continue to urge the public and maritime community to report any sightings or recovery of debris potentially linked to the incident. Report to: SAPS: 10111 NSRI Emergency Operations Centre: 087 094 9774 Marine VHF Radio: Durban Radio or Durban Port Control This will aid the ongoing investigation and may help piece together the final moments before the aircraft's disappearance. Authorities confirmed that some personal items from the wreckage have been returned to the family, with arrangements in place to return others. 'The family is in the care of authorities, regularly briefed, and has asked for privacy during this difficult time,' officials said. Post your condolences below, by … Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
15 hours ago
- The Citizen
Westbrook Beach reclaims its shores after sewage nightmare ends
Westbrook residents have won a years-long fight as sewage leaks stop and beaches reopen, thanks to urgent municipal intervention. The eThekwini municipality has repaired the broken sewage pump at Westbrook Beach, installing two new motors at the start of the month. This unblocked the sewer lines, which had previously seen raw effluent overflowing from manholes and drains. The repairs mark a small but significant victory for residents, who have endured years of sewage-related problems, raising serious health and hygiene concerns. When the Courier revisited the area in June, raw sewage was still flowing into the streets and directly beneath the lifeguard tower, before entering the ocean. A foul stench hung over the area. Westbrook Better Together co-founder Salome Botes welcomed the news, calling it a positive step forward. 'We never gave up. We kept pressuring and nagging the municipality. Phoning and emailing daily to get the problem sorted out,' said Botes. With the system now repaired, residents and visitors can once again enjoy the beach safely. Botes said it was a hard-won success for community activism and municipal co-operation. Also read: Westbrook community group forms to fight sewage scourge Formed earlier this year, the Westbrook Better Together group set out to address what it described as a long-standing health and environmental crisis. The Farmhouse pump station on Spathodia Crescent had also suffered from years of neglect, theft and vandalism, turning nearby wetlands and gardens into a sewage swamp. 'We appreciate the municipality for helping sort out the issue. I am really happy, and the smell is gone,' she said. Westbrook's main beach, once a proud Blue Flag destination, has faced frequent closures in recent years due to elevated E. coli levels. Ward 58 councillor Geoff Pullan emphasised the importance of the beach to the local economy and tourism. 'As the premier tourist city, we are delighted to have these facilities back in action. The beach is once again open, which reignites our tourism industry,' he said. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
