Durban’s beaches welcomed thousands of visitors on New Year’s Day, reaching full capacity as holidaymakers enjoyed the warm summer weather.
Despite the exceptionally high turnout, the City is pleased to report that no drownings occurred. There were about 609 950 bathers, with an estimated number of 853 190 people on the beach promenade.
Dedicated lifeguards and emergency services were on high alert throughout the day, responding swiftly to 290 rescues of swimmers caught in challenging conditions. Their professionalism, vigilance, and teamwork ensured that every incident was managed effectively, safeguarding lives and maintaining the festive spirit on our coastline.
The City’s beach guides issued 21, 317 wristbands to children, and all 168 separated children were successfully reunited with their parents. A total of 52 of them were safely kept overnight at a facility dedicated to housing separated children.
Thousands of people visiting the City’s beaches to usher in the New Year resulted in increased waste generation along the coastline.
To ensure the cleanliness of all beaches following the New Year’s celebrations, the City activated a comprehensive Waste Management Plan, which included the deployment of additional cleaning teams, a structured shift system, roving teams, and the placement of extra street litter bins at key locations. The teams were deployed to monitor and ensure continuous cleanliness across beachfront, promenade, parking areas, and public amenities.
Through these efforts, tons of waste were collected and safely disposed.
Recyclables were also collected, sorted and diverted from landfill.
The City extends its appreciation to residents and visitors who disposed of their waste responsibly and cooperated with cleaning teams to keep Durban’s coastline clean, safe, and welcoming for both residents and visitors.
Durban remains committed to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all beachgoers and encourages visitors to continue observing water safety practices as the holiday season progresses.
No major incident was reported in all 22 beaches that were opened for bathing.
Durban Metro Police also staged road block operations in various parts of the City to ensure safety for all road users and to curb drinking and driving.
A total of 13 operations were conducted, and 14 drivers were arrested for drinking and driving.
ENDS
Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate.
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