Two South Africa surfers drown at Coffee Bay

A weekend getaway ended in tragedy when two friends drowned while surfing at Coffee Bay on Saturday morning.

One body has washed up on the beach, but a second man is still missing and presumed drowned.

Police spokesman Major Zamukulungisa Jozana confirmed a case of drowning had been opened.

Eastern Cape-based freelance photographer John Crossley was in the area when the incident happened.

“People sitting on the beach said they saw two men entering the beach carrying surfboards with no ankle leashing at 8am. The boards were later seen washed up on the beach and the men had disappeared,” Crossley said.


Volunteer lifeguards immediately arrived and began searching for the missing men.

“They soon spotted an object on the far north of the beach close to the Ocean View Hotel and upon further investigation they found one of the bodies washed up,” Crossley said.

The man was later identified as King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) municipal employee Sinovuyo Dyantyi, 31. His friend, who is still missing, is Mthatha businessman Sakhamzi Mdaka.

Dyantyi’s older brother, Camagu, confirmed yesterday that his brother had drowned. His main concern was that there were no rescuers on site yesterday to look for Mdaka.

“There is no one here looking for Sakhamzi; we have been waiting for police divers since Saturday,” he said.

Neil Whittal, a surfing instructor at nearby Coffee Bay Shack and Backpackers, said it was the fifth drowning in just two months.

“Our lifeguards are under-equipped and the majority of them work on a voluntary basis with no pay. They have no first aid kits or even kneeboards for paddling,” he said.

“Coffee Bay is increasingly becoming a favourite destination spot for local and international tourists but it is not safe,” he said. “I just hope that whoever is responsible for the lifeguards immediately intervenes to make Coffee Bay beach a friendly and safer place to be in.”

Lifeguard Siphiwo Sothomela said they had no shelter at the beach.

“As I am talking to you now the beach is full and the wind is blowing. We are struggling to see and it is hard to focus,” he said.

Sothomela said they were desperately in need of an inflatable rescue boat, binoculars, paddle ski and a jet ski.

KSD municipal spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said he was unaware of the shortage of equipment: “We will have to investigate – this is news to us.”