Durban's many beaches have been a major concern this festive season, due to high levels of E.coli found in routine tests which made it unsafe for bathers.

However, the City's acting mayor, Nkosenhle Madlala has now given some updates on the issue.

Madlala has said that the temporarily closed beaches will be reopened soon. More than 10 beaches were briefly closed to bathers owing to high levels of the bacteria found in human faeces, although eight have since reopened.

He told Newzroom Afrika on Thursday, December 5, that Durban has 23 beaches, with just two completely closed owing to high levels of E.coli.

These are the Reunion and Anstey's beaches. Madlala claimed that they will, however, become open within a week.

"We can assure our visitors that those two will be open again by the coming weekend. We will have our fully-fledged 23 beaches that will be opened," Madlala told the TV news station.

Usually, the decision to open beaches is made when E.coli levels drop to acceptable standards.

With school holidays ahead and thousands of visitors from other provinces descending on Durban to enjoy the beaches, the issue of safety should be emphasised.

The country's beaches have seen a sharp uptick in fatal drownings.

Here are some crucial tips from Lifesaving South Africa:

- Individuals should only swim where lifeguards are on duty, and not on unpatrolled beaches.

- Bathers should at all times follow the lifeguard's instructions and stay between the red and yellow flags.

- Adults should always supervise young children around pools and avoid leaving them alone in bathtubs or near water containers.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) echoed this sentiment.

The organisation urged the public to swim at lifeguard-protected beaches after responding to multiple incidents along the coast and inland.

"Always have safety top of mind in and around coastal waters, on inland waters, rivers, lakes and dams, and your swimming pool at home should be cloaked in preventative safety measures," said NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.

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E. Coli bathing bans: City assures its beaches will all be open by next weekend

These three beaches have the lowest E-coli levels in Durban