KUGOMPO CITY – Nahoon Beach in KuGompo City remains temporarily closed following another shark sighting on Sunday morning, 25 October, days after a fatal shark attack at Orient Beach left a swimmer dead.

The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) spokesperson Luzuko Buku confirmed that Orient Beach and Eastern Beach have reopened to the public, while Nahoon Beach remains closed as a precautionary measure.

In a statement, the municipality warned bathers and beachgoers not to enter the water at Nahoon Beach “until further notice,” adding that updates on its reopening would be provided once it was deemed safe.

The closure follows the fatal shark attack at Orient Beach on Tuesday, October 20, which prompted the temporary closure of Orient and Eastern beaches.

As the festive season approaches, BCMM confirmed that additional safety measures would be introduced, including the appointment of 35 seasonal lifeguards to supplement its permanent complement.

“Lifeguards will regularly scan the water and communicate any unusual shark sightings or potential risks,” Buku said.

Lifeguard operating hours will be adjusted to 07:00 to 18:00 during the festive season, extending to 20:00 on peak days. Beachgoers have been urged to swim only in designated areas monitored by lifeguards and during their operating hours.

Buku acknowledged that the fatal attack could affect public confidence in visiting local beaches.

“We are indeed concerned that the recent shark attack which led to a death of a swimmer may make people fear coming to our beaches,” he said.

Buku added that although the incident was “a profoundly sad event,” such occurrences remained “extremely rare along our coastline.”

Meanwhile, Gonubie and Kidd’s Beach have retained their Blue Flag pilot status for the third consecutive year, while the Nahoon Estuary has also received recognition for its environmental management efforts.

Buku said the recognition highlighted efforts to improve coastal management, protect water quality and promote sustainable tourism.

He also added that BCMM would provide further updates on Nahoon Beach once it had been assessed and considered safe to reopen.

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