The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality acknowledges all legitimate concerns raised around safety of our beaches, however in the unfortunate article published in The Herald newspaper, titled “SEWER MUCK-UP: Will beaches be safe for summer?” inaccurate information is presented, thus creating unverified and unnecessary panic amongst the public, especially those who use our beaches and benefit in the beach’s economic value chain.
Firstly, it is important to mention that the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) acquired Blue Flag status at several of its beaches, including King’s Beach, against a stringent world class criterion and standards, which we comply with fully as a responsible Municipality. This status was awarded following rigorous water quality testing, where intensive inspections and regular sampling of sea water was done and continues to be conducted regularly. The blue status is then maintained through criteria that requires certain standards to be met, one of those being the quality of the sea water. That is among other things, tests for E. Coli levels, which we comply with as a Municipality. The NMBM conducts regular water quality tests at not only King’s Beach, but other beaches as well, in compliance with the minimum Blue Flag requirements as per the below table:
Schedule of water quality sampling for the 2024/2025 season (see far below for MORE on this*)
The criteria that is set by the NMBM for testing is as follows:
- E. coli Type 1/100ml water analysis
- Faecal strep /100ml
- pH value water class 0 ideal
- Acceptance Class II allowed
The NNBMM also conducts internal tests at various beaches along the coastal area.
The tests are conducted by an accredited laboratory as per minimum requirements, of which the Municipality complies with and hasn’t exceeded. Members of the public or any relevant stakeholder can access the water quality results through the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).
As the Municipality, we are committed to transparency and will comply with all applicable regulations concerning public information requests.
On the matter of the pump station, the Municipality continuously maintains and rehabilitates all its pump stations along the beach, including the Rudolf Pump Station located near King’s Beach.
The Municipality would like to assure residents and stakeholders that the Rudolf Pump Station has not experienced any service failures during the period mentioned in the article.
The sewer spillage on the parking lot of King’s Beach was due to excessive storm water ingress into our sewer system. The Municipality wants to emphasise that such occurrences are not common; they are exceptional events resulting from recent flooding. Remedial action has already been implemented to ensure that any sewer spillages caused by storm water ingress do not compromise public safety.
It is also important to emphasise and clarify that the sewer spillage only occurred in the parking lot with no spillage onto the beach. If ever there would be spillages that affect the safety of residents at our beaches, the NMBM is obliged and does take the necessary steps to inform residents.
The health and safety of our residents is of paramount importance and is our number one priority as a responsible and accountable Municipality. We are not only compliant, but we ensure we are committed and responsive in ensuring our beaches are safe for our beach goers, tourists and all relevant stakeholders.
* MyPE asked the following question; “These water quality sampling testings are up until May 2024 – the situation may have changed since then. Could you please provide the latest water quality sample testing results?”
The NMBM replied as follows: “Good afternoon, As outlined in the media statement – The sample testing results can be requested via PAIA process. Kindly follow the process ASAP, so you can be assisted.”
MyPR replied thus; “Then that renders your reply to The Herald moot I am afraid.”
NMB Communications
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