Contents Founds on the Shores of Sarah Baartman District

On the 10th of September 2024, the Sarah Baartman District Municipality (SBDM) Disaster Management Centre received a report that pill bottles have been found on the beaches of Port Alfred and Kenton-on-Sea, after this more items including food items have washed onto beaches in Kouga Municipality as well. The SBDM immediately contacted all relevant role-players which include South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA); Department of Health (DoH); South African Police Services (SAPS); Office of the Premier (OTP); Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE); Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA),  and the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT). A local join-operations-centre was established, and stakeholders are meeting daily to ensure that this issue is addressed speedily and that the impact to the environment is minimised.  

The contents washing onto our shores are believed to be from several ships which have lost containers along the South African coastline in the last few weeks. SAMSA has issued directives to the shipping companies to clean-up the contents from their containers and the clean-up is expected to commence within the next few weeks. Community members are urged to not confiscate these items and to refrain from eating or using any of the items. The contents of all these items cannot be confirmed and thus it is not advisable to consume or use any of these items.  

Community members should contact their local municipality or the Sarah Baartman District Disaster Call Centre on 080 022 2238 if they come across containers or any foreign items along the coast or riverbanks.