Human remains found on Pennington Beach 5 days after mass drowning

While human remains may be linked to a mass drowning on New Year’s Day, they have yet to be identified.

January 7, 2026
Vanisha Moodley Less than a minute
The community was on high alert for the missing 21-year-olds after the mass drowning on January 1.

Emergency services have confirmed that human remains have been found at Pennington Beach on the KZN South Coast.

At this point, it is not certain whether this is related to the mass drowning at the beach on New Year’s Day.

South Coast Herald reports that the three victims, Bhulebakhe Nxumalo, Sakhile Mhlengi Chiliza and Sbongakonke Shozi, all aged 21, have still not been found.

However, the bodies of Simo Sibisi and Ntandoyenkosi Thabethe, both aged 21, were found during a search operation on January 1, and the body of 18-year-old Nobuhle Mpisane was located at Bazley Beach the next morning.

The remains are yet to be identified.

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January 7, 2026
Vanisha Moodley Less than a minute

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Vanisha Moodley

Vanisha Moodley is the journalist for the Mid South Coast Herald newspaper, which circulates in the Scottburgh area. She has been with the company for close on 10 years and is a product of the Caxton Cadet programme. She had originally come to the office to work as a volunteer, but her potential was seen and the rest, as they say, is history. Vanisha covers all beats, from court to crime to community. She assists with managing the website and is adept on the social media side of things.
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