by SFT | Aug 16, 2026 | St Francis, Surf Editorial
The South African surfing community is mourning the death of Thys Lombard, who suffered a medical emergency while competing in the Vintners Surf Classic at Jongensfontein on Friday.
Lombard, 61, from Stellenbosch, was surfing in the 26th annual Vintners Surf Classic when he collapsed unconscious in the water at Sandstrand, Jongensfontein.
Fellow surfers immediately came to his assistance, bringing him through the surf and onto the beach. CPR was started on the shoreline while emergency services were alerted.
Emergency Response at Jongensfontein
NSRI Still Bay was called to the scene, while the rescue craft Breede Rescuer, which was already on the water near the surfing competition, diverted to assist.
Two NSRI crew members swam ashore from the rescue craft and joined the CPR efforts already underway.
Additional NSRI crew, NSRI medics and Western Cape Government Health EMS paramedics also responded and continued efforts to resuscitate Lombard.
Despite extensive attempts to save him, he was declared deceased at the scene.
Police attended, and his body was taken into the care of the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. An inquest docket has been opened.
A Familiar Face in South African Surfing
Lombard was a friend of the St Francis Today editor, a well-known within surfing circles, and was a familiar face behind the camera at major surfing events.
He also spent time photographing the JBay Open, documenting some of the world’s best surfers at Supertubes and becoming part of the wider group of photographers, surfers and characters who return to Jeffreys Bay for the event.
His death during a surfing contest has consequently been felt well beyond those gathered at Jongensfontein on Friday.
The Vintners Surf Classic has been part of the South African surfing calendar for more than two decades and brings together surfers from the country’s wine industry for a weekend of competition and camaraderie.
Our condolences go to Thys Lombard’s family and friends, as well as his fellow surfers and everyone who knew him through the South African surfing community.
The editor.
by SFT | Aug 16, 2026 | St Francis
An adult Russian fisherman was brought safely ashore after a coordinated medical evacuation from a fishing trawler off St Francis Bay.
Medical assistance requested at sea
NSRI St Francis Bay and Jeffreys Bay crews were called into action on Thursday after a local fishing trawler requested medical assistance while returning from deep sea.
A crewman on board had suffered a medical condition and required further treatment in hospital.
As the trawler made its way towards St Francis Bay, rescue teams prepared to meet the vessel offshore.
Crews from NSRI St Francis Bay and NSRI Jeffreys Bay gathered at the St Francis Bay rescue base. Rescue Care ambulance services also joined the response.
The rescue craft Spirit of St Francis III then headed out to sea carrying NSRI Maritime Extrication (MEX) crew members and two Rescue Care EMS paramedics.
Rescue teams board trawler
The NSRI crew rendezvoused with the fishing vessel offshore of St Francis Bay.
MEX crew members and the paramedics transferred onto the trawler, where they assessed the patient and prepared him for the trip back to shore.
Fortunately, the man was in a stable condition and was able to walk. The team transferred him onto the NSRI rescue craft without incident.
Rescue Care paramedics continued to monitor the patient while Spirit of St Francis III returned to the St Francis Bay rescue base.
Patient taken to hospital
Once ashore, Relay EMS transported the fisherman by ambulance to hospital in a stable condition.
According to the NSRI, the man remained in the care of doctors and nurses and was expected to make a full recovery.
The NSRI commended the fishing trawler and its crew for their cooperation during the successful operation.
The response brought together NSRI crews from St Francis Bay and Jeffreys Bay, the specialist MEX team, Rescue Care EMS and Relay EMS.
by SFT | Aug 16, 2026 | St Francis
The Sarah Baartman District Municipality has brought Eskom and Khoi-San Traditional Leaders together to discuss the proposed nuclear development at Thyspunt.
Thyspunt plans discussed in Humansdorp
The Sarah Baartman District Municipality (SBDM) hosted the stakeholder engagement session in Humansdorp on Saturday.
Led by the SBDM Executive Mayor, the meeting gave Eskom an opportunity to brief Traditional Leaders on the proposed Nuclear Build Programme at Thyspunt.
The discussion covered the anticipated timelines for the project, as well as possible socio-economic opportunities and the environmental processes involved.
However, the session also gave Khoi-San Traditional Authorities an opportunity to put their own concerns and priorities on the table.
Heritage and environment among key concerns
Several important local issues emerged during the discussions. These included biodiversity conservation and the protection of Khoi-San heritage in the Thyspunt area.
Traditional Leaders also raised questions around job creation, education and skills development. In addition, they highlighted economic empowerment, youth development and long-term environmental stewardship.
These issues are particularly relevant given the scale of the proposed development and its potential impact on communities across the region.
Eskom responded to the concerns raised during the meeting. It also provided more information on how these matters could be considered as the Nuclear Build Programme progresses.
Community involvement remains important
The meeting also looked at ways to maintain community participation as the process moves forward.
For SBDM, the engagement highlighted the importance of keeping communication open between Eskom, Traditional Leaders and communities that could be affected by the proposed development.
The Thyspunt nuclear proposal has been discussed for many years and remains a significant issue for the greater Kouga region.
As plans develop, environmental protection, heritage, employment and local economic opportunities are likely to remain central to the conversation.
The Humansdorp session provided another opportunity for local stakeholders to hear more about the proposal while raising issues directly with Eskom.
by SFT | Aug 16, 2026 | St Francis
Kouga Local Municipality has warned residents about a job scam currently circulating in local communities, with fraudsters reportedly asking people for money in exchange for employment opportunities.
Municipality does not charge for jobs
The municipality has stressed that it does not request payment from anyone applying for a job.
Any person who asks for money to secure a position at Kouga Local Municipality is therefore acting fraudulently.
All legitimate municipal vacancies are advertised through Kouga Local Municipality’s recognised and official communication channels. Residents should check these platforms before responding to any employment offer that claims to come from the municipality.
The warning comes as job scams continue to target people looking for work. Fraudsters may use the promise of employment to persuade victims to make payments or hand over sensitive personal information.
Never pay to secure a position
Residents should not pay individuals who claim they can arrange employment at the municipality. In addition, they should never provide banking details or personal information to unknown people offering jobs.
Anyone who receives a suspicious job offer should first verify the information through official Kouga Local Municipality platforms.
Residents should also be particularly cautious when someone puts pressure on them to make an immediate payment or claims that payment will guarantee a job.
Report suspicious activity
The municipality has urged residents who encounter suspected job scams to report the matter to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Importantly, paying money does not improve a person’s chances of securing legitimate municipal employment.
Kouga Local Municipality has encouraged residents to remain vigilant and to help prevent others from becoming victims by sharing the warning with friends, family and community members.
When in doubt, residents should verify the vacancy before responding, sharing information or making any payment.
by SFT | Aug 16, 2026 | St Francis
You might have seen this one already. We’re giving it another run because it’s worth watching, and because the algorithms demand more views. Best to keep them happy before they become sentient.
For anyone who missed it the first time around, this 12-minute video tells the story behind the St Francis Bay groynes and the Long-Term Coastal Protection Scheme (LTCPS). The video looks at the St Francis Property Owners NPC project, how it developed, what it aims to achieve and how the different elements work together.
Behind the Work on the Beaches
The most visible signs of the LTCPS are obvious. Groynes are taking shape, heavy machinery is working on the beaches and large quantities of sand are being moved along the coastline.
However, what we see happening today is the result of years of planning, specialist studies, engineering work and consultation.
The video brings much of that history together in an accessible format. It also uses footage from around St Francis Bay to show the scale of the work and how the various parts of the scheme fit together.
Groynes and Beach Nourishment
The LTCPS combines a series of groynes with ongoing beach nourishment. Together, they are designed to help retain sand and rebuild sections of the St Francis Bay coastline.
For newer residents, the video provides useful background to the work taking place along the beachfront. Meanwhile, longer-term residents who have watched the coastline change over the years will recognise much of the story behind the current coastal protection work.
Either way, it’s a useful 12-minute overview of one of the most significant projects currently underway in St Francis Bay. So yes, we’re running it again. If you watched it before, another view won’t hurt. If you missed it, now’s your chance. And, of course, there are those algorithm sentinels to keep happy.
Also:
Worth Fighting For – an excerpt from the Beach Restoration Project video
Read more:
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