Beaches along Durban’s  Golden Mile have re-opened following a sewage leak last week.

The eThekwini municipality shut the beaches on Thursday  after pumps tripped and failed mechanically, resulting in 20% raw sewage being discharged into the harbour at Lavender Creek.

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) had suspended all diving operations within the Port of Durban and had prohibited all angling activities due to a severe sewage discharge that poses a risk to diving personnel and marine life.

On Sunday the city announced that  beaches were safe to be used.

Msawakhe Mayisela, the city’s head of communications, said: “The public is only asked to avoid the water at Durban port, which has been 20% contaminated by sewage.”

He said a pump that would stop the sewage discharging into the harbour was expected to arrive and be installed on Monday.

An international surfing competition that was supposed to kick off on Friday was cancelled following the closure of the beaches.