Janine Lochrenberg, a 65‑year‑old retired nuclear radiographer and musician, had been a regular member of the East London Open Water Swimmers Association for years. She was swimming off Orient Beach in KuGompo City Tuesday morning when a shark latched onto her right arm and thigh; despite frantic rescue attempts by colleagues and her son, the injuries proved fatal. Police have opened an inquest, and the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality closed Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach until further notice, urging beachgoers to heed safety warnings. The incident is part of a small but growing list of global fatal shark bites; in 2025, the International Shark Attack File logged 65 unprovoked attacks, nine deaths, contrasting with 47 attacks and fewer fatalities in 2024. Experts say rising human activity, coastal pollution, and changes in marine ecosystems may be shifting shark distribution, increasing the risk of encounters for swimmers.