City of Cape Town claims Camps Bay is clean. It is NOT! - Cleeve Robertson, Underwater Africa

Lester Kiewit interviews Cleeve Robertson, Director of Underwater Africa.

Listen below.

The City of Cape Town recently announced that its most popular beaches achieved world-class water quality test results.

However, Robertson disputes this claim.

He noticed troubling signs during a recent visit to Maiden's Cove and Camps Bay Beach.

There was a distinct colour line marking a boundary between the clear water near the waves and murky water beyond the backline.

Robertson collected a sample from the latter area, which revealed an enterococci count exceeding 2500 – well above acceptable limits.

"My relationship with people's poo in Camps Bay is a little bit more intimate than you think."

- Cleeve Robertson, Director – Underwater Africa

Robertson says this indicates water pollution, likely from effluent, posing a significant health risk to swimmers.

He criticises the City for failing to properly assess and communicate these health risks, emphasising that it is irresponsible to declare the water safe when it is not.

At the very least, he argues, the City should place warning signs to inform swimmers that they are swimming at their own risk.

"The City hasn't done any health-related impact studies that prove that the water is safe. We have no data of health-related issues."

- Cleeve Robertson, Director – Underwater Africa

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.