Zambezi sharks, a particularly aggressive breed, are blamed for most of the
attacks.
But despite the dubious honour, the town council has failed to follow through
on a pledge to stop people swimming at the beach, whose pristine white sands
and azure waters draw thousands of visitors each year.
The lifeguards who have until now pulled each victim out of the water were
meant to enforce a ban but their contract has run out and not been renewed.
Michael Gatcke, the owner of a guesthouse which overlooks the beach, accused
the council of “putting its head in the sand”.
“It’s crazy that they’re doing nothing about it,” he said. “There’s
no one on the beach now to even inform people and no signs telling them
about the risk.
“We still see people going into the water – this week there was one group
who were swimming out by the rocks.”
Nonceba Madikizela, a spokesman for Port St Johns municipality, said the
council was still discussing the terms of re-employing the lifeguards.
“There are law enforcement officers – police and traffic officers – who
go to the beach to tell people not to swim,” she said.
“We have put up signs but people vandalise them and take them down.
“It is a concern and we don’t want more lives to be lost. The council has
passed a resolution that the beach must be closed completely.”
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