Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
15 January 2025 | 09:30 CAT
2 min read

Cape Town’s renowned beaches, celebrated for their pristine waters and vibrant tourism industry, are at the centre of a heated debate following findings from Project Blue, a citizen-driven initiative. The report has raised concerns about sewage contamination and public health risks at several popular beaches. However, the City of Cape Town has pushed back, disputing the claims and questioning the methodology used in the study.

Earlier this week, Alan Turton, a water scientist advising Project Blue, expressed concerns about sewage pollution and its implications for public health in an interview with Radio Islam. In response, city officials have defended their water quality monitoring systems, emphasising their commitment to accurate reporting and public safety.

Dave Bryant, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Western Cape spokesperson on Environmental Affairs, highlighted the importance of the coastline to Cape Town’s economy and addressed the allegations. “Our understanding is that there was potentially a breakdown between the information that was being reported on and the detail of that information,” Bryant said. He added that the City of Cape Town conducts water quality assessments “on a weekly basis” and, during the summer season, on a “daily basis in many of the key beaches.”

He also raised concerns about the credibility of Project Blue’s findings, pointing to the lack of laboratory accreditations for seawater testing. He explained, “The City established that the report did not use what they would term SANAS-accredited laboratories to analyse the water quality data and that neither of the laboratories were properly accredited according to the City.”

Bryant emphasised the potential impact of unverified claims on the tourism-dependent economy, stating, “Making claims like this could have potential damage on surrounding businesses and the coastal economy.”

Gregg Oelofse, the Coastal Manager for the City of Cape Town, echoed these concerns. He acknowledged that urban environments inherently face challenges with waste management but maintained that the City’s data reflects good water quality at recreational beaches. “We have a very big ocean that takes on a lot of our waste for us and does remarkably well,” he explained. “At our recreational modes across a 100-kilometer coastline, the data that we have, which is extensive and is monitored weekly, shows during summer that we have exceptionally good water quality at our beaches.”

Oelofse also questioned the methodologies used by Project Blue, pointing out discrepancies in the results. “On the same day that they presented results that are poor – so high counts of bacteria at Clifton, Camps Bay, and Saunders Beach – we have data for the same day which shows very different results,” he said. “At the end of the day, the only way that we can really have some sense of confidence whether the results are credible or not is whether they are accredited.”

Despite their disagreements, both the city and Project Blue highlighted the importance of collaboration. Turton’s call for joint efforts to ensure accurate data collection was welcomed by Oelofse. “We would like to work with everyone, including independent scientists,” he said. “Our advisory committees are open to the public, and we encourage engagement.”

He emphasised the City’s transparency, stating, “We certainly make all of our data available publicly.” He also highlighted forums where citizens and activists can engage with the City, such as the Section 80 Water Quality Committee, which advises the mayor, and the Permit Advisory Forum for marine outfalls.

However, Oelofse acknowledged that some areas, such as the Sooke River in Strand and the Milnerton Lagoon Deep River area, face significant pollution challenges. But, their focus during the summer season has been on ensuring water quality at key recreational beaches, including Camps Bay, Clifton, Fish Hoek, Dalebrook Tidal Pool, St. James, Strand, and Gordon’s Bay. The city has conducted extensive daily testing at these popular holiday destinations, providing data to ensure public safety and transparency regarding bacterial levels.

While the debate continues, the City of Cape Town remains adamant that its water quality data supports the safety of its beaches. “We take the issue very seriously,” Oelofse said. “If we are saying that the water quality is good, we have information to back that up.”

Cape Town’s beaches remain a vital part of the city’s identity and economy, with water quality at the heart of the discussion. As this story develops, citizens and visitors alike will be watching closely, eager to see how these claims are addressed and resolved.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and Dave Bryant, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Western Cape spokesperson on Environmental Affairs, here.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Gregg Oelofse, the Coastal Manager for the City of Cape Town, here.