Durban QS Event Cancelled Due To Sewage Leak

Well, shit. 

The Zigzag Durban Surf Pro, scheduled to run between May 10-12, has been canceled due to a sewage leak in the Durban Harbor. 

A statement from the city reads:

Please be advised that we are suspending all diving operations and fishing in the port due to the sewage flowing into the port. It is approximately 720 000 litters per hour that are flowing through. 

The City has taken the sewage pumps out and these pumps require spares that will be coming from overseas.

Our Environmental Department has been engaging with the City but will only be able to contain this spillage earliest by the 31st May 2019.

Furthermore, damages to City infrastructure are making matters worse. Port of Durban has invoked BCP as we need to do water samples. We need to test for dissolved oxygen levels, and do an analysis of fecal contamination across the port.

Last year’s winner, Adin Masencamp, will retain the Zigzag title for another year. Photo: WSL

“But why didn’t they just move the event to somewhere not soo poo-ey?”

With regards to relocating the event, it’s not as easy as it seems. Accelerate Sports weighed up various options but logistically, it simply wasn’t possible.

The difficulty of moving locations is that it would have taken at least a day to secure a permit for an event of this size, but the event would also need three days to run and complete.

Starting the event and not being able to complete it by Sunday 12 May 2019 would have meant no winners would have been finalized and the surfers competing would have forfeited a refund of their entry fees. WSL rules, as soon as an event gets underway, the option of refunds falls away if an event is incomplete.”

This is Mr. Jordy Maree, who shares a namesake with Durban’s most famous surfer. Photo: WSL

An unfortunate result for everyone involved, but the WSL did what they had to do. 

“It was not an easy call to make and we looked at many alternatives,” said Colin Fitch, WSL Africa Operations Manager. “We need to maintain the safety standards associated with an international sports event and we have the support of Surfing South Africa, the national surfing federation, on this call. 

“Our regional tour is so important to us, our sponsors and especially our members but we will not take any chance with the future of our sport and organization by not doing the right thing,” said Fitch.

The WSL Africa surfer’s representative and local surfer, David Van Zyl apparently agreed with organizers on the call.

It turns out Brazil is not the only major surfing nation that has to deal with poo-poo problems.