Durban holiday water blues: Erratic state of beaches a red flag for tourism

The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and its mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, have assured residents and tourists that the metro's beaches are safe for swimming, but the consistency of E. coli levels is under question.

Last week, Kaunda as well as metro police officers and officials launched the Ethekwini festive season campaign at uShaka Marine World, during which the mayor declared that the metro was ready for December tourism.

He welcomed tourists from beyond the city, provincial and international borders, saying E. coli levels were low and that beaches were safe to swim in.