Durban – The sewage crisis affecting Durban should not overshadow the opportunities that KwaZulu-Natal has to offer visitors this festive season says KZN spokesperson on Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Heinz de Boer.
In a statement on Thursday, De Boer said the party is encouraged by the private tourism operators and responsible local governments in the province who are actively marketing their destinations.
He said this is potentially buffeting a substantial cash drain from the province due to the current sewage crisis.
While several Durban beaches have been reopened, others remain closed due to the high levels of E coli in the water from sewage.
EThekwini Municipality told The Mercury on Wednesday that from December 1 onwards all beaches would be opened.
De Boer said there are also tourism initiatives in uMngeni Municipality and private enterprises in the Drakensberg, the Midlands and St Lucia.
He said South Africans have a remarkable ability to adapt to challenges faced.
“Out of the ashes of the seemingly unending sewer crisis, the private sector has stepped in to bolster the economy by marketing alternate beach and bush destinations,” he said.
De Boer added that the DA has and will continue to push the government to form partnerships with the private tourism sector to invest in their advertising and promotional campaigns in times of crisis.
“A nimble and forward-thinking government would have embarked on an aggressive alternate destination marketing campaign months ago,” he said.
De Boer called on MEC Duma and his Department to step up and devise strategies to assist Durban tourism operators while aggressively marketing other destinations.
The Mercury reported today that ActionSA has brought a high court application against the government for its failure to maintain sewage infrastructure, which they say has led to a crisis.
The party’s provincial chairperson, Zwakele Mncwango, and eThekwini caucus leader Alan Beesley filed papers at the Durban High Court citing Duma and Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Environment Barbara Creecy, Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu, Minister and MEC of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Sihle Zikalala respectively, and eThekwini Municipality and Durban mayor Mxolisi Kaunda as respondents.
The party is seeking an order declaring that the eight respondents were in contravention of several laws as they had failed to maintain, repair, replace or install the necessary infrastructure to prevent the release or flow of sewage or untreated effluent into eThekwini’s waterways, rivers and beaches.
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