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15 May 2026
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Gamtoos River burst its banks, homes submerged, roads collapsed and families faced isolation, Kouga
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Post of gratitude: You turned fear into hope and chaos into coordinated rescue. Where does one even begin?
In the midst of one of the most devastating floods in Kouga’s history, when the Gamtoos River burst its banks, homes were submerged, roads collapsed and families in Patensie, Hankey and surrounding areas faced terrifying isolation, you stood strong. Thank you to NSRI (Stations 6 Gqeberha, 36 Oyster Bay, 37 Jeffreys Bay and 21 St Francis Bay), Kouga Municipality, Gamtoos Water, South African Police Services (SAPS), and all the other emergency services: Eastern Cape Government Health EMS, private ambulance services and Search and Rescue South Africa (SARZA).
More than 300 people were displaced and 49 residents (from a five-year-old to an 80-year-old) along with their animals were safely evacuated from Kingsway Resort and other flooded spots — with no lives lost. That is nothing short of miraculous, and it happened because of your courage, professionalism and heart.
To the NSRI crews who launched JetRIBs and CROCS in fast-flowing, debris-filled waters, wading and swimming where necessary, often through the night under heavy rain — thank you for risking everything to reach trapped families.
To the Kouga Municipality, Mayor, Disaster Risk Management teams, Fire Chief and Kouga Fire and Rescue Services who worked around the clock on evacuations, shelters, mop-up operations, and restoring services — your leadership kept the community together.
To the SAPS teams — Water Policing and Diving Services, Search and Rescue, K9 units, Sea Borderline Control, and the Air Wing helicopter crews — thank you for your seamless coordination and bravery.
Despite their own home being under direct threat from the rising floodwaters at Gamtoos Ferry Hotel, Mr and Mrs Herselman took the time to prepare and deliver a large container of soup and bread to rescue crews... In a situation where most would understandably be focused entirely on their own safety and property, the Herselmans chose to look after others.
We also extend deep gratitude to local farmers (like Jaco Malan, who used his rubber duck to ferry bread, milk, eggs, and fuel to stranded families), the many Good Samaritans with tractors, heavy machinery, and 4x4s who opened access routes, and everyday heroes like the Herselman family, who prepared soup and bread for exhausted rescue crews while their own home was at risk.
A special mention to the N2 Wind Farm Service Station team for supplying KFC, Steers, coffee and soup to rescuers and rescued persons — small acts that meant so much in dark, cold hours.
Thank you to Gift of the Givers for the blankets, sleeping mats, food parcels, and ongoing relief to displaced families, to local churches, businesses, volunteers, lifeguards, surfers and every resident who donated, sheltered others, or simply showed up.
The spirit of Kouga shone brighter than the floodwaters — compassionate, united and unbreakable.
Your collective efforts saved lives, protected animals, fed the hungry and gave comfort when it was needed most. We are deeply grateful and proud to call this our community.
• NSRI
• NSRI
• Kouga Municipality and Mayor Hattingh Bornman
• Gamtoos Water
• South African Police Service
• Kouga Fire and Rescue Services
• SARZA
• Gift of the Givers
• EC Government Health EMS
• The Windfarm
• Roy and Annette Herselman
𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀:
Images and updates courtesy of Kouga Municipality, Gamtoos Water, NSRI (Sea Rescue), Gift of the Givers, local Patensie and Jeffreys Bay community pages and participating farmers/residents.
Source: Jeffreys Bay Tourism, Kouga Municipality, Mayor Hattingh Bornman
In the midst of one of the most devastating floods in Kouga’s history, when the Gamtoos River burst its banks, homes were submerged, roads collapsed and families in Patensie, Hankey and surrounding areas faced terrifying isolation, you stood strong. Thank you to NSRI (Stations 6 Gqeberha, 36 Oyster Bay, 37 Jeffreys Bay and 21 St Francis Bay), Kouga Municipality, Gamtoos Water, South African Police Services (SAPS), and all the other emergency services: Eastern Cape Government Health EMS, private ambulance services and Search and Rescue South Africa (SARZA).
More than 300 people were displaced and 49 residents (from a five-year-old to an 80-year-old) along with their animals were safely evacuated from Kingsway Resort and other flooded spots — with no lives lost. That is nothing short of miraculous, and it happened because of your courage, professionalism and heart.
To the NSRI crews who launched JetRIBs and CROCS in fast-flowing, debris-filled waters, wading and swimming where necessary, often through the night under heavy rain — thank you for risking everything to reach trapped families.
To the Kouga Municipality, Mayor, Disaster Risk Management teams, Fire Chief and Kouga Fire and Rescue Services who worked around the clock on evacuations, shelters, mop-up operations, and restoring services — your leadership kept the community together.
To the SAPS teams — Water Policing and Diving Services, Search and Rescue, K9 units, Sea Borderline Control, and the Air Wing helicopter crews — thank you for your seamless coordination and bravery.
Despite their own home being under direct threat from the rising floodwaters at Gamtoos Ferry Hotel, Mr and Mrs Herselman took the time to prepare and deliver a large container of soup and bread to rescue crews... In a situation where most would understandably be focused entirely on their own safety and property, the Herselmans chose to look after others.
We also extend deep gratitude to local farmers (like Jaco Malan, who used his rubber duck to ferry bread, milk, eggs, and fuel to stranded families), the many Good Samaritans with tractors, heavy machinery, and 4x4s who opened access routes, and everyday heroes like the Herselman family, who prepared soup and bread for exhausted rescue crews while their own home was at risk.
A special mention to the N2 Wind Farm Service Station team for supplying KFC, Steers, coffee and soup to rescuers and rescued persons — small acts that meant so much in dark, cold hours.
Thank you to Gift of the Givers for the blankets, sleeping mats, food parcels, and ongoing relief to displaced families, to local churches, businesses, volunteers, lifeguards, surfers and every resident who donated, sheltered others, or simply showed up.
The spirit of Kouga shone brighter than the floodwaters — compassionate, united and unbreakable.
Your collective efforts saved lives, protected animals, fed the hungry and gave comfort when it was needed most. We are deeply grateful and proud to call this our community.
• NSRI
• NSRI
• Kouga Municipality and Mayor Hattingh Bornman
• Gamtoos Water
• South African Police Service
• Kouga Fire and Rescue Services
• SARZA
• Gift of the Givers
• EC Government Health EMS
• The Windfarm
• Roy and Annette Herselman
𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀:
Images and updates courtesy of Kouga Municipality, Gamtoos Water, NSRI (Sea Rescue), Gift of the Givers, local Patensie and Jeffreys Bay community pages and participating farmers/residents.
Source: Jeffreys Bay Tourism, Kouga Municipality, Mayor Hattingh Bornman
