An extensive sea, air, and shoreline search for missing local kite-boarder Graham Howes, 38, from Bloubergstrand ended in tragedy after his body was recovered.
Howes, an experienced kite-boarder, was reported missing after he was last seen around 1pm on Sunday offshore of Eden on the Bay. He was wearing a black wetsuit and riding a blue and black kite-board with a white sail featuring red writing. Family reported him missing after he failed to return as expected by late afternoon.
"During Monday morning the kite-surf sail and kite-surf board were located and recovered at sea where later in the day the body of Graham Howes was located and recovered at sea in the search area by the crew of a local motor yacht that had also joined in the extensive search efforts. The body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services," the NSRI reports.
The search effort by the NSRI has drawn support from the Blouberg and Melkbosstrand communities, including coast watchers, neighbourhood watches, and fellow kite-boarders. Authorities involved include the CoCT Water Rescue Network, Police Water Policing and Diving Services, Police Sea Borderline Control, and CoCT Law Enforcement. Environmental officers at Robben Island, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, and Transnet National Ports Authority also assisted.
"The extensive efforts by all involved in this incredible effort that has helped the family with closure is commended," Craig Lambinon of the NSRI said in a statement.
Day: September 8, 2025
More than 40 000 streetlight repairs in CT
Over winter when inclement weather often increases the risk of electricity streetlight outages in particular, and electricity faults in general, the City’s energy teams attended to more than 41 000 streetlight requests.
Over the same period between May and August, teams completed more than 130 600 total electricity-related service requests.
Over the warmer months, except where there are periods of extreme wind speeds, weather-related service requests typically decrease but often damage from vandalism, theft and illegal connections increase.
'We’re finishing up our winter wrap of electricity-related service requests. Our work is concluding on a strong note with more than 8 602 streetlight requests resolved in August alone and just under 30 000 overall electricity-related requests resolved.
Over the winter period City energy teams attended to more than 41 000 streetlight requests and over the same period, teams completed more than 130 600 total electricity-related service requests. Over the warmer months, except where there are periods of extreme wind speeds, weather-related faults typically decrease but often damage from vandalism, theft and illegal connections remain a challenge.
‘Damage from vandalism, theft and illegal connections remain our biggest threat to our mission of safer and brighter communities. We will also continue to visit areas across the metro to drive our Protect Your Power campaign message. A lot of our electrical infrastructure such as cables, streetlights, transformers, kiosks, substations and others, are in our neighbourhoods and if we all stand together to report suspicious activity immediately, we can bring to justice those behind these infrastructure crimes. Damage from vandalism, theft, and illegal connections is often extensive, leading to longer repair times as entire grids and power infrastructure may be affected or require replacement.
‘Our energy and law enforcement teams continue to be visible in all hotpot areas and we ask our residents to alert us to any suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods so that law enforcement agencies can respond swiftly and the criminals can be brought to book,' said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.
The City maintains more than 245 000 streetlights across the metro.
Over the same period between May and August, teams completed more than 130 600 total electricity-related service requests.
Over the warmer months, except where there are periods of extreme wind speeds, weather-related service requests typically decrease but often damage from vandalism, theft and illegal connections increase.
'We’re finishing up our winter wrap of electricity-related service requests. Our work is concluding on a strong note with more than 8 602 streetlight requests resolved in August alone and just under 30 000 overall electricity-related requests resolved.
Over the winter period City energy teams attended to more than 41 000 streetlight requests and over the same period, teams completed more than 130 600 total electricity-related service requests. Over the warmer months, except where there are periods of extreme wind speeds, weather-related faults typically decrease but often damage from vandalism, theft and illegal connections remain a challenge.
‘Damage from vandalism, theft and illegal connections remain our biggest threat to our mission of safer and brighter communities. We will also continue to visit areas across the metro to drive our Protect Your Power campaign message. A lot of our electrical infrastructure such as cables, streetlights, transformers, kiosks, substations and others, are in our neighbourhoods and if we all stand together to report suspicious activity immediately, we can bring to justice those behind these infrastructure crimes. Damage from vandalism, theft, and illegal connections is often extensive, leading to longer repair times as entire grids and power infrastructure may be affected or require replacement.
‘Our energy and law enforcement teams continue to be visible in all hotpot areas and we ask our residents to alert us to any suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods so that law enforcement agencies can respond swiftly and the criminals can be brought to book,' said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.
The City maintains more than 245 000 streetlights across the metro.
