This comes after surfer John McCarthy posted on Facebook that he stood on one while taking a run on the sand yesterday morning.Because the needle appeared to have been used, three different doctors suggested he have a hepatitis-B injection and go on a month-long course of antiretroviral medication.It is unknown where the needles came from, but many suspect that they could have been dumped by drug addicts using the beachfront late at night or in the early hours of the morning, prompting the call for an investigation by the premier, the department of health and the Durban municipality.McCarthy said he was aware of at least three other incidents of used needles found on the beach, including a case where, a month ago, another surfer also stood on one.McCarthy said: "In my case it was clearly a used needle. The general consensus is that they are 'druggie needles', although it could be a form of medical waste."Either way, they were definitely used needles."He said that the needle was buried, unseen, in the sand, which is what many other beach-goers have reported.McCarthy said the problem needed urgent attention."I've been a daily surfer for the past 25 years and I've never seen needles on the beach until the last month or so."Something has happened or is happening. If the city doesn't act decisively, it could be catastrophic," he said.McCarthy took to Facebook to highlight the problem yesterday afternoon. By 5.30pm his update had been shared close to 500 times.One of those who commented on the post was Lee van Vuuren, a Durban resident who had a similar experience last month.On March 20, alongside pictures of used needles on the beach, he posted: "So our walk along the waterline went a little bit like this - eight syringes, some still with bent needles. This is unacceptable and needs to be dealt with immediately. This is not the first time that this has happened."Van Vuuren tagged the municipality in his post.Surfer Grant Harper also commented: "I had one on Easter Sunday, walking and talking to Spider [surfing legend Spider Murphy], before I trampled on a needle just before Moyo pier. I'm in no hurry to go back to town."All the incidents took place along the beachfront's southern beaches, near the Addington Hospital.Mchunu's spokesman, Ndabazinhle Sibiya, said yesterday that the provincial government would thoroughly investigate the incidents."This matter has been brought to our attention and the premier views it in a very serious light.His office will work together with the provincial department of health, the eThekwini Municipality and other independent bodies."We must protect all our beaches as they are important to our province. We want to assure surfers and beach-goers that this matter will be investigated urgently," said Sibiya...