Durban has opted for a less theatrical approach to attracting visitors to Surf City for the December holidays – unlike last year, when eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda donned a pair of baggies and swimming goggles, and leapt into the sea in front of media cameras to “prove” just how clean the water was.
But the city still put on a show this week, with Kaunda returning to the beachfront to announce details of the city’s festive season preparations for holidaymakers.
For a few hours, this was probably the safest place to be in South Africa – with the men and women in blue from eThekwini Metropolitan Police vastly outnumbering early-morning strollers along the southern section of Durban’s 8km beachfront promenade.
Well over 100 emergency service vehicles – ranging from patrol cars to fire engines and rubber ducks for surf rescue – were lined up like soldiers, stretching from the uShaka Marine World entrance to the car park at the top of Bell Street. (It included 62…