Residents are urged not to consume contents of pill bottles found along the coast in the Kouga Municipality, Port Alfred, and Kenton-on-Sea
According to the Sarah Baartman District Municipality (SBDM) spokesperson, Natasha Peterson, on September 11, the SBDM Disaster Management Centre received reports of pill bottles washing up on the beaches of Port Alfred and Kenton-on-Sea.
Peterson said subsequently, more items, including food products, have been found on beaches in the Kouga Municipality.
“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),” she added.
Peterson further added that a local joint-operations-centre has been established, and stakeholders are meeting daily to address this issue swiftly and minimise environmental impact.
“The items washing ashore are believed to originate from several ships that have lost containers along the South African coastline in recent weeks. SAMSA has directed the shipping companies to clean up the contents from their containers, with the clean-up expected to commence within the next few weeks,” Peterson explained.
“Community members are strongly urged not to confiscate these items and to refrain from consuming or using any of them. The contents of these items cannot be confirmed, making it inadvisable to consume or use them.
“If community members come across containers or any foreign items along the coast or riverbanks, they should contact their local municipality or the Sarah Baartman District Disaster Call Centre at 080 022 2238.”
