By Kershni Ramreddi
Durban, South Africa's third-largest city, has endured a dreadful year. Residents in this city have yet to fully recuperate from the horrific climate catastrophe that occurred in the city and surrounds.
The 350mm of rain that lashed various parts of the province over the course of two days on April 11 and 12 was more than twice as intense as the previous record-holder, in Easter 2019.
Climate change is to blame for the fact that the April event is now twice as likely to occur as it was in previous decades.
The massive sewage spills that are currently flowing into the rivers and sea are having an impact on our beaches.
Despite the numerous limitations and the awareness raised of high E coli levels, large numbers of people are swarming to Durban’s beaches as the December holidays approach.
The municipality has not yet responded, and the levels of E coli in our rivers and oceans are rapidly increasing.
Encouraging test results are being produced by the eThekwini Municipality’s Department of Water and Sanitation, leading the public to believe that the beaches are safe for swimming.
However, E coli bacteria can harm the lining of the small intestine and cause severe stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Long-term negative consequences include haemolytic uremic syndrome, which can cause kidney failure, and which may lead to severe symptoms and even life-threatening complications.
For many years, both nationally and internationally, climate change has been a major and quickly expanding concern. Governments all over the world have long been urged to create mitigation plans for this due to grave warnings from scientists that climate change will bring about more extreme weather conditions.
When the government does not prepare for and mitigate against changes in our climate, the biggest impact is felt at the local level by poor and marginalised people. The extensive environmental devastation seen in Durban serves as an example of just how serious climate change is.
People have been forced to approach their own local government officials and council members for assistance, with limited success due to the lack of a robust and organised disaster management response.
Where is our defence against the climate crisis when we most need it? Given that climate change is widely accepted as fact by the scientific community, our communities and local government have failed in their responsibility to prepare for mitigation. This failure is directly attributable to the government’s corruption and political factions.
In the key sectors of disaster risk mitigation – water, sewage, public health, and waste management – poor infrastructure maintenance is the result of cadre deployment and corruption.
South of Durban, the eThekwini Metro forbade swimming at Umgababa Beach. As a result of the elevated E coli levels, 12 beaches in and around Durban will continue to be closed.
The decision means the city is likely to miss out on essential holiday revenue. Since tourism is a significant source of revenue for the city, particularly during the holiday season, the closure of several prominent beaches will have a negative impact on the local population.
At this time of year, the uMhlanga Main, Bronze, and Laguna beaches are among the most popular. However, the closing of these beaches was caused by the metro's failure to stop sewage from draining into the ocean. Ten days into December, mayor Mxolisi Kaunda's pledge that all beaches will open on December 1 has not been kept.
Since we as a country hosted the Fifa World Cup in 2010 we have seen funds for maintenance of all eThekwini Municipality infrastructure reallocated to mega sporting events and huge parties, resulting in the collapse of the sewerage system, water and electricity.
The most recent water quality results, sampled on December 1 and 3, revealed that the sea has high levels of E coli.
According to a Department of Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) directive, Bronze Beach was closed as a result of three consecutive water quality findings that are E coli non-compliant (over 500 parts per 100ml).
The rivers' poor condition and unrepaired wastewater treatment facilities make it impossible for the expected rains this holiday to drastically reduce the levels of E coli.
President Cyril Ramaphosa proclaimed the floods a national catastrophe in a speech on April 18 and made R1billion immediately available to support relief and recovery activities and to restore basic utilities.
In order to fix flood-damaged infrastructure, the eThekwini Municipality had to reprioritise its budgets because neither it nor the KZN government had received this funding.
EThekwini is not as prosperous as it once was. We face major issues affecting all of society. The people of eThekwini deserve to hear the truth and Ramaphosa’s promises turned to reality.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the premier and other MECs live in plush suburbs, and they do not see what their citizens are going through, nor do they hear their cries of suffering. Our leadership is caught up in its own fancy world, instead of helping people who need to be shown some humanity.
We urge Ramaphosa to make good on his promises to ensure those affected the most will get the relief they need so they can continue their lives and be provided with decent homes, sanitation, electricity and water.
*The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) is an environmental justice organization based in South Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal.
** Kershni Ramreddi is from the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance.