A 65-year-old woman has died after a shark attack at Orient Beach in KuGompo City — the Eastern Cape coastal city formerly known as East London — and two popular beaches have been shut to swimmers until further notice.
The incident happened on Tuesday, 20 October, at around 7am, while the woman was swimming with a group of open-water swimmers. Police called to Orient Beach found her with serious open wounds, reportedly to her right arm and leg. Lifeguards pulled her from the water, and paramedics and bystanders tried to revive her on the sand, but she died at the scene. Police in KuGompo have opened an inquest, and her name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
In response, the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality closed both Orient Beach and Eastern Beach until further notice, telling the public to stay out of the water at those beaches and to take extreme care along the rest of the coastline. Warnings have also been posted at surrounding beaches, with beachgoers urged to stay alert and follow instructions from lifeguards and officials.
Shark incidents in this stretch of the Eastern Cape are rare, but the closure is a real consideration for anyone with a coastal trip planned. KuGompo's beaches are a draw for open-water swimmers, surfers and families, and conditions or closures can change quickly after an incident like this. If you're heading to the area, check Buffalo City's official municipal channels before you swim, stick to beaches with active lifeguard patrols, and take any posted flag or signage warnings seriously. It's also sensible to swim in groups and avoid early-morning or dusk sessions when visibility in the water is poor — the time window when many encounters happen.
Who this matters for: travellers booked into East London (KuGompo) or nearby coastal spots like Gonubie or Beacon Bay in the coming weeks should confirm which beaches remain open on arrival, and consider inland or alternative activities if the closures run long. The situation may be reassessed by the municipality at any point, so treat local guidance as the final word rather than pre-booked plans.
