According to eThekwini Municipality's beach status update dated 30 October 2026, 22 of Durban's 23 monitored beaches remain open for swimming. Brighton Beach is the only beach currently closed after recording an E. coli result of 708, above the municipality's poor-water-quality threshold of 500.
Brighton Beach remains closed
Brighton Beach, on Durban's southern coastline, is the only beach listed as closed for swimming in the latest update. A water sample taken on 29 October 2026 recorded an E. coli result of 708, exceeding the municipality's poor-water-quality threshold of 500.
The municipality's notice states that other recreational activities can continue at closed beaches, but swimming is not permitted.
Which Durban beaches are open for swimming?
The municipal status update lists the following beaches as open for swimming:
- Northern beaches: Westbrook, Umdloti Main, Umhlanga Main and Bronze Beach.
- Central beaches: Wedge, Point, uShaka, Addington, South Beach, North Beach, Bay of Plenty, Battery Beach, Country Club, Thekwini Beach and Laguna Beach.
- Southern beaches: Toti Main, Anstey's, Umgababa, Doonside, Winklespruit, Pipeline and Reunion.
This means Reunion Beach, which was closed in the previous municipal update, has reopened for swimming. Visitors can choose from beaches along Durban's central beachfront, in Umhlanga and further south towards Amanzimtoti.
Water quality varies between beaches
The latest E. coli results show differences between individual beaches. Among the reported samples, Umdloti Main and Umhlanga Main both recorded results below 10, while uShaka recorded below 10, Toti Main 10 and Bronze Beach 10.
Other beaches recorded higher results while remaining open for swimming. These include Winklespruit at 327, Laguna Beach at 275, Doonside Beach at 253, Anstey's Beach at 243 and Thekwini Beach at 201.
The municipality uses the following thresholds to classify beach water quality:
- Excellent: Below 130
- Acceptable: 130–500
- Poor: Above 500
An open status does not necessarily mean that a beach's latest water-quality result falls within the excellent category. Travellers should check the status of their intended beach rather than assume that conditions are the same along the entire coastline.
What travellers should know
If swimming is part of your Durban itinerary, check the latest eThekwini Municipality beach water quality information before heading to the coast. The published results are samples collected on specific dates, and conditions may change between tests.
For now, Brighton Beach should be excluded from swimming plans. The other 22 beaches listed in the 30 October 2026 update remain open for swimming, subject to any subsequent changes in their status.
Source: eThekwini Municipality, Beach Water Quality Results and Status of Beaches and Swimming Pools, dated 30 October 2026. The water-quality samples listed in the report were collected between 26 and 29 October 2026.
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