Read more:
Pick Up A Few Things – How To Play A Little Part With The Pollution In St Francis Bay
Kromme Enviro-Trust Community Beach Clean-Up Day at St Francis Bay
Friends of St Francis Nature Reserves Celebrate Milestone Year at 2025 AGM
All photos by Cameron Biggs
After 5 magical years of StorySlam, it’s time for change and renewal. I am no longer going to be at the helm of Storyslam. Everything has a season, and it’s time for a new one!
This is both sad and exciting. Sad, because it has been such a part of my life and purpose for these past 5 years. Inspired by the storytelling forum in Cape Town – Southern Rights and Wrongs – founded by Alon and Eitan Stern, I brought it to St Francis on a wing and a hope that we could create a space for sharing stories and experiences – with the main purpose of raising money for charity.
Together with the Brewery, we did that. Right from the start, Lance and Linky were on board and have supported Storyslam in the best way possible. Together with their incredible staff, they provided the best venue for Storyslam, and what fun we all have had – and in the process, we have raised thousands for Foster, St Francis Football Club and Hospice.
Tracy O’Riain and Wade Inglis have been incredible – they have supported and co-presented Storyslam for the past 18 months and took this on despite their busy and full lives. I am very grateful for their help.
And so, I am excited that Linky and her team at the Brewery are going to host their own story telling evening, with a new name and format – we need stories to be told and heard, so I am so grateful they are continuing with the magical art of storytelling. Linky will share details at a later stage.
Thank you to everyone who showed up month after month, to support Storyslam and our charities. Your presence is what makes story telling! We cannot have stories without an audience, and you have all been a fabulous audience. Your generosity in donating to charity so generously is testament to the ethos of this village. Local lives have been changed for the better because of you all.
Lastly, to our storytellers…. I salute you for your bravery to stand on a stage and tell a story in 5 minutes. It’s tough to do that. It’s nerve wracking. But you did it anyway. You said yes to courage and moments of shaking nerves. Be proud.
We have cried, we have laughed, we have been inspired and we have come away changed, after listening to your stories.
You are all astonishing and remarkable. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
With love, Sandy Coffey
(photo NSRI)
ST FRANCIS BAY – A routine morning at sea turned critical when a 53-year-old fisherman collapsed unconscious aboard a chokka vessel offshore of St Francis Bay on March 17.. A fast decision by the skipper, followed by a coordinated emergency response, helped bring him back.
At 06:06 on March 17, NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew were activated after receiving an urgent call for medical assistance. The skipper of a local chokka fishing vessel reported that a crewman had collapsed on deck and was unresponsive.
At the time, the vessel was about 1.7 nautical miles offshore. The situation was already serious. Then it deteriorated further.
The skipper immediately turned the vessel towards Port St Francis. He increased speed and made for shore without delay. At the same time, he kept emergency responders updated as the crewman’s condition worsened.
Meanwhile, NSRI Station 21 crews mobilised to prepare for launch. In addition, Rapid Emergency Medical Services were activated. As a result, teams were in position before the vessel reached port.
As the vessel entered Port St Francis and tied up at the quayside, NSRI medics boarded immediately. They commenced CPR on the fisherman without hesitation.
Shortly afterwards, REMS paramedics arrived and joined the effort. The resuscitation continued in a focused and controlled environment.
Then came a breakthrough.
A pulse was restored. Soon after, spontaneous breathing returned.
The fisherman was stabilised and transported in critical condition to hospital by REMS ambulance. Since then, his condition has improved. There are positive signs of recovery. He is expected to be transferred to a specialised hospital unit in Gqeberha.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon commended the skipper and crew for acting quickly and heading straight for port. This decision proved critical in the outcome.
He also acknowledged the coordinated efforts of NSRI St Francis Bay, REMS paramedics and hospital staff. Each played a key role in the successful response.
In an incident where timing was everything, a fast run to shore and a prepared team made the difference.
Read more:
Pick Up A Few Things – How To Play A Little Part With The Pollution In St Francis Bay
Kromme Enviro-Trust Community Beach Clean-Up Day at St Francis Bay
Friends of St Francis Nature Reserves Celebrate Milestone Year at 2025 AGM
JEFFREYS BAY – Kouga Local Municipality stepped up efforts to protect vital water resources through a collaborative clean-up campaign targeting a polluted stream in Jeffreys Bay.
The initiative, in partnership with the Department of Water and Sanitation in the Eastern Cape and Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, took place on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, in the Gush’indoda and KwaNo-R10 areas. The stream, which feeds into the Swart River, has become heavily polluted, posing both environmental and public health risks to surrounding communities.
From a Kouga Local Municipality perspective, the clean-up is not just a once-off intervention but part of a broader commitment to environmental sustainability and community wellbeing. Municipal teams were on site with resources to assist in removing waste, clearing debris, and restoring the natural flow of the stream.
To maximise impact, organised litter pickers worked alongside municipal teams and community members. As a result, clean-up efforts covered affected areas thoroughly. In addition, the campaign places strong emphasis on prevention, with education and awareness materials distributed to residents to promote responsible waste disposal and highlight the importance of protecting local water sources.
This initiative forms part of National Water Month, observed annually in March. The campaign highlights the importance of water conservation and equitable access to clean water. Furthermore, it reinforces the message that safeguarding natural water systems is more sustainable and cost-effective than treating polluted water.
Kouga Local Municipality continues to encourage residents to take ownership of their environment. By working together, the community can help ensure cleaner rivers, healthier ecosystems, and a more sustainable future for all.
Read more:
Pick Up A Few Things – How To Play A Little Part With The Pollution In St Francis Bay
Kromme Enviro-Trust Community Beach Clean-Up Day at St Francis Bay
Friends of St Francis Nature Reserves Celebrate Milestone Year at 2025 AGM
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