The festive season has turned deadly on Eastern Cape beaches. Three people drowned at two separate beaches in the province over the weekend.
Two people drowned at Port St Johns while there were no lifeguards on duty.
The third person died at an East London beach.
Second beach at Port St John’s is notorious for its fatal shark attacks, but this time the cause of death was drowning.
Authorities did say that one of the victims was also fed on by sharks.
One of the bodies washed up.
An extensive search for the second body is still underway.
The lifeguard station has been unmanned for the past week due to ongoing protest action at the Port St Johns Municipality meaning there were no lifeguards on duty at the time of the recent drownings.
If the situation is not resolved the problem of no lifeguards on duty will be further compounded by the increase in bathers during the festive season.
The Port St Johns Municipality says it is working hard to prevent further incidents.
Lindelwa Rholobe, Mayor of PSJ says, “We are in partnership with private sector police and/or the Tambo Municipality to assist manning the beach.”
An increase in beach visitors at Port St Johns is expected over the coming Christmas and New Year weekends.
