Fedhasa reassures holidaymakers that South Coast tourism activities operational after storm
This image shared by Stephen Herbst on the Tidy Towns Shelly Beach to Margate Facebook page shows the Uvongo Beach which is open.
Image: Stephen Herbst
The Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa) has assured holidaymakers that KwaZulu-Natal South Coast tourism establishments are operational after Sunday's storm.
The South Coast was hit by a severe storm on Sunday in which two people died due to localised flooding and damage to infrastructure. A 63-year-old woman died when a house collapsed during a mudslide in Bomela located in the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, while a 46-year-old man drowned after being swept away by floodwaters in Qholoqholo in the Umzumbe Local Municipality.
However Fedhasa KZN said the impact was limited and short-lived. It said thanks to swift coordination and on-the-ground response, the majority of tourism businesses were operational again and were continuing to serve visitors during the peak holiday season.
But some beaches along the KZN South Coast were closed on Tuesday to bathing due to unfavourable conditions, according to the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board (KZNSB).
Bathing was prohibited at the following beaches:
- Hibberdene
- Umzumbe
- Umtentweni
- Uvongo
The KZNSB stated that the closures are due to safety concerns linked to environmental factors such as proximity to river mouths, channels, sandbanks, and related conditions.
All affected beaches were set to be re-evaluated, with an updated bathing status to be communicated following further assessments.
Fedhasa national chairperson Brett Tungay said the region’s true strength lies in its ability to respond collectively and effectively.
“What defines the South Coast is not disruption, but the resilience and spirit of its communities,” Tungay said. “Once again, Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, its Disaster and Crisis Management teams, tourism businesses, community organisations, and residents worked side by side to respond swiftly and responsibly. We applaud this collective effort ensuring that recovery was fast, disruption was minimal, and visitors could continue to enjoy their holidays with confidence.”
However, Fedhasa expressed concern over the circulation of outdated and misleading images and videos on social media. Footage from the 2024 floods is reportedly being misrepresented as content from the most recent weather incident, creating unnecessary alarm among tourists and prospective visitors.
It urged visitors not to rely on unverified social media content and instead to contact accommodation establishments or tourism operators directly for accurate, real-time information.