Date: 2025-10-29 09:17:03

City Issues Stern Warning To Fake Website Spreading False Information About Durban Beaches

ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITY ISSUES STERN WARNING TO FAKE WEBSITE SPREADING FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT DURBAN BEACHES

EThekwini Municipality has issued a stern warning to the creators of a fake website and false news post that incorrectly claimed all Durban beaches had been “red-flagged” and were unsafe to visit.

The City categorically refutes the misleading information published on www.redflagbeach.com under the headline “Avoid these South African beaches.” 

The claims made on this website are false, unfounded, and not supported by any credible data such as official water quality test results or South African Police Service crime statistics.

This misinformation poses a serious reputational risk to the City and undermines ongoing efforts to protect and maintain Durban’s beaches. 

The Municipality is treating this malicious and damaging act with the utmost seriousness.

The City has issued a formal notice to the Cape Town-based company responsible for hosting the website, instructing them to disable the domain (redflagbeach.com), which was registered earlier this month.

The website, hosted on IP address 104.21.16.4, contains content that is false, misleading, and harmful to eThekwini Municipality.

In its communication, the City emphasized the negative implications of publishing such misinformation, noting that it damages Durban’s image, discourages tourism, and misleads residents and visitors.

A section of the notice reads:

“Please advise your customer of the misinformation abuse logged. As a responsible service provider governed by relevant ISPA codes and regulations against hosting unlawful or false content, we expect this matter to be addressed within four days. The dissemination of this misinformation influences citizens and visitors to avoid beaches that are, in fact, safe and open as per official Municipal communication and verified water quality results.”

The City further stated that failure to comply will result in legal action against both the website owner and the hosting service provider.

EThekwini Municipality reiterates that official updates on beach status are published regularly on the City’s website at www.durban.gov.za.

Beach water quality tests are conducted bi-weekly, and the results determine whether beaches meet the required safety standards for public use.

If test results indicate elevated bacteria levels, the City implements precautionary closures immediately to protect public health. 

All updates are shared transparently on the City’s official website and social media platforms.

The Municipality continues to work closely with uMngeni-uThukela Water and the Water Services Directorate to manage and improve water and sewerage infrastructure and to respond promptly to any pollution incidents.

As Durban prepares for the festive season, the City reaffirms its commitment to maintaining clean, safe, and accessible beaches for residents and visitors alike. 

Durban’s beaches remain a vital tourism and economic asset, and their protection and maintenance remain a top Municipal priority.

ENDS

Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate.