Woman placed on precautionary ARVs after stepping on needle at Salt Rock

A Salt Rock woman endured a frightening health scare last Thursday, after stepping on a discarded needle on the beach below Shad Lane.

The hypodermic needle pierced her foot, raising immediate fears of HIV, hepatitis and other blood-borne infections.

The 39-year-old sought urgent medical treatment, receiving injections for tetanus and hepatitis B, and was placed on a 28-day course of antiretroviral (ARV) medication as a precaution.

The following morning, the family gardener discovered additional needles, syringes and a pack of medical supplies discarded at the same spot while cleaning the beach.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous due to the stigma surrounding HIV and ARV treatment, said she was relieved her children, who were with her at the time, were not injured.

She urged the public to exercise caution, particularly parents with young children and dog walkers, warning that hidden needlestick injuries could have devastating consequences.

06While the source of the needles has not been confirmed, local experts believe they were most likely discarded by individuals using intravenous drugs.

IPSS Security operations director Brennon Knott said CCTV footage from the days before and after the incident showed no suspicious vehicles or pedestrians in the area.

KwaDukuza lifeguard supervisor Bongani Xulu dismissed suggestions the needles had washed ashore, saying their grouping pointed to deliberate dumping, possibly by “kids being naughty.”

Addiction recovery specialist and founder of Against Drugs and Child Abuse (ADCA), Rex Hunt, agreed, noting that items carried in by the surf would not remain clustered.

He believes the needles could have been left behind by a group over Easter, but stressed that such drug use is not typically seen in public spaces locally due to strong security measures.

He added that the incident appears isolated and linked to the influx of holidaymakers.

Experts have also ruled out the possibility that the medical waste originated from a healthcare provider.

Under the National Health Act 61 of 2003, strict protocols require sharps to be sealed in punctureproof containers and collected by licensed contractors, not disposed of through municipal waste systems.