Note to Editors: Please note Hannah Lidgett, MPL sound bite in English
The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with extreme concern recent reports of large-scale fish deaths during the past week at both the Umhlali River mouth and Shakas Rock tidal pool, resulting in beach closures.
At municipal level, DA KwaDukuza councillors are maintaining a watchful presence and engaging with relevant authorities to ensure that these matters are treated with the urgency they deserve.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether the fish kills were the result of extreme heat and reduced oxygen levels in the water, or whether they are linked to pollution or effluent contamination. Both possibilities are deeply troubling and highlight the ongoing vulnerability of KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN’s) river systems and coastal ecosystems.
The DA, as a responsible partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), is closely monitoring the outcomes of water quality testing currently underway to determine the cause. We will continue to follow up in this regard and demand full transparency from all responsible departments regarding the findings and any remedial action required.
KZN’s communities have a right to know what is happening within their environment and whether failures in infrastructure, waste management, or enforcement may be contributing to these recurring incidents.
Protecting our rivers, estuaries, and marine life is essential for environmental sustainability, tourism and the health of local residents. The DA remains committed to fighting for the preservation of KZN’s natural resources for current and future generations.