"This is very disheartening, given the awareness drives and campaigns from the city to prevent drowning," said mayoral committee member for community services and health, Zahid Badroodien.

During the 2018/2019 season, there were 11 fatal drownings compared to the season before where 19 people lost their lives.

"Indications are the incidents are related to rip currents or swimming in undesignated bathing areas. Our key messaging each season specifically includes warnings on rip currents and staying within safe zones on the beach," said Badroodien.

The city has 282 seasonal beach lifeguards in addition to 11 permanent senior beach lifeguards who are stationed at 26 locations along the coast, including tidal pools.

"Our lifeguards do a sterling job, given the thousands of visitors who flock to our beaches on a daily basis. While they assist with many help outs, near-drownings and prevent a large number of serious incidents, they cannot do it alone. 

"Visitors to the beach have a role to play and I implore them to remain in the designated bathing areas at all times, swim only at beaches where lifeguards are on duty, to not drink and swim, to only swim between the flags and for adults to supervise their children."

Badroodien said that although none of the ten drownings was alcohol-related, two-thirds of drowning incidents were related to "problematic social behaviour", and stressed that alcohol was not allowed on beaches. 

Durban beachgoers have been cautioned to be aware of spring tides which are expected to bring rough seas to the coast this week. The warning was issued on Tuesday by the South African Weather Service (SAWS), according to Berea Mail.

High tides are expected from the Cape to Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday and Friday, just ahead of the long weekend, when high numbers of visitors and locals are expected to visit Durban’s beaches.

“Visitors are warned to be especially careful on the days leading up to and following these periods, as high tides will be higher than average and low tides will be lower than average. Caution is advised for areas which may be exposed to the lower-than-normal low tide but will flood when the tide rises,” warned the SAWS, adding that areas normally accessible may be flooded due to higher-than-average high tides like rocky outcrops and headlands.

SAWS also warned beachgoers to be aware of rip currents and urged them to swim only at beaches where lifeguards are on duty and swimming areas are clearly demarcated.

African News Agency (ANA)