EAST LONDON – After a week of intense storms, Nahoon Corner and surrounding beaches have been left littered with piles of debris and a heartbreaking number of dead sea creatures. The environmental toll has prompted a community-led cleanup effort, spearheaded by the local volunteer group, the Nahoon Granny Grommets.
On Friday morning at 8:45am, volunteers and members of the public gathered at Nahoon Corner for a beach cleanup, organized in collaboration with Jonginenge Eco-Adventure and Tidy Towns Buffalo City. Cleanup supplies, including gloves and bags sponsored by Leaderpak, will be provided.
Dean Knox, director of Jonginenge and chair of Tidy Towns Buffalo City, said one of their dedicated volunteers, Izak Mio, had already begun the effort — collecting more than 30 bags of trash from the beach and surrounding areas like the Reef. But, Knox added, “There’s still so much more to clean up. It’s devastating.”
The massive accumulation of waste is believed to have washed down from the Nahoon and Ihlanza rivers, which are currently in full flood after days of relentless rain. Knox explained that the flooding also brought a tragic wave of dead marine life to shore.
“We saw a lot of dead sea animals,” he said. “I suspect the sudden flood of fresh rainwater changed oxygen levels in the ocean. The sharp drop in salinity and temperature likely caused the deaths.”
Among the sea life found were eagle rays, electric rays, three-spotted swimming crabs, octopuses, urchins, and perlemoen. The scale of loss has stunned locals.
The extreme weather was caused by a trio of cut-off low (COL) pressure systems — intense storms commonly associated with mid-latitude cyclones — which swept across South Africa’s coastal zones. Buffalo City fell within the “purple zone” on the forecast map, indicating an 80% chance of rainfall. Rivers have swelled, roads are flooded, and the city is visibly overwhelmed — from gaping potholes to debris-strewn streets.
“There were rapids at Blue Bend on the Nahoon River, where the water normally flows gently,” Knox said, describing the dramatic transformation of the landscape.
Despite the devastation, the community is determined to rally together. Knox encouraged residents to join the Friday cleanup, saying, “It’s going to take a collective effort to bring the beach back to its beautiful self. We can’t let this storm have the last word.”