The City is urging beachgoers not to use the Milnerton Lagoon, Estuary Mouth and Lagoon beach due to pollution in the Diep River.
This, after hundreds of bathers flocked to Lagoon beach over the Christmas long weekend. The City said the area is closed for swimming, playing and recreational use.
Earlier this month, at a meeting with residents in Table View, the city outlined a range of proposals to tackle pollution at the Milnerton Lagoon. Mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews told the meeting that the City planned to restore the lagoon over the coming years through multibillion-rand sewerage and stormwater infrastructure upgrades, including on-the-ground pollution-mitigation measures.
The City said pollution warning signs remain in place.
However, Milnerton Central Residents’ Association’s environmental head, Caroline Marx, said there are no signs on Lagoon beach that says it’s closed, only a few signs warning people to swim at their own risk, which most children don’t understand.
“How far down the beach is closed and for how long? How does the City intend to police this and why is this closure not publicised as Bakoven and Muizenberg closures were?” she asked.
Ms Marx said it was vital that Capetonians know where exactly to go to check which beaches were closed and for how long.
“This is vital safety information that should be easily available as beachgoers risk not only gastroenteritis but also ear, eye and skin infections and more serious infections such as hepatitis and typhoid if they swim in infected water,” she said.
Ms Marx said the City cannot simply put up a few signs and consider its work done, especially when the pollution is caused “by its own failure to fulfil its mandate of providing safe sanitation”.
The Greater Table View Action Forum (GTAF) has blamed the City for neglecting warnings about the the state of pollution in the Milnerton Lagoon and the Diep River.
GTAF planning and biodiversity head David Ayres said the City confirmed it had taken no steps to investigate possible health complications raised by residents at a recent Milnerton Lagoon feedback meeting.
What was more concerning, said Mr Ayres, was that the City didn’t seem to even think it was its responsibility.
He urged beachgoers to exercise caution when using Milnerton Lagoon and the beach. Mr Ayres also challenged Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis to come for a swim in the lagoon to get first hand experience of the situation.