The eThekwini Municipality says repairs have been completed on wastewater infrastructure blamed for a recent mass fish die-off in the Isipingo River Estuary, following days of concern from residents and environmental groups.
According to the City, the pollution was traced to damage to a major wastewater rising main along Prospecton Road. The situation was further aggravated by cable theft at the Isipingo Beach Wastewater Pump Station, which disrupted operations and allowed untreated sewage to flow into the river.
The discharge of raw sewage resulted in the death of large numbers of fish and raised fears about the environmental and public health impact.
Municipal teams responded by isolating the damaged pipeline, deploying vacuum tankers to contain the spill, and introducing chemical dosing to limit further ecological harm. Officials say these emergency measures were aimed at stabilising water quality and preventing additional contamination.
The Democratic Alliance’s KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson on Environmental Affairs, Hannah Lidgett, conducted an oversight inspection along the river last week and described the scene as deeply troubling.
“What we witnessed was horrifying. The river was black, and dead fish were floating in the water,” she said. “This has a significant impact on the health of communities and on the fragile ecosystems that depend on the river, including the mangroves on either side.”
Lidgett added that the pollution could also affect nearby beaches and the local tourism sector, warning of wider economic consequences.
“This sewage eventually reaches our beaches, which affects tourism. We are requesting an urgent report on the incident,” she said.
The incident marks the third major fish kill reported in the Isipingo River, prompting renewed calls for stronger infrastructure protection and faster intervention measures to prevent future environmental damage.