Search and rescue operations are continuing off the southern coast of South Africa after a cargo vessel sank approximately 80 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay, leaving five crew members unaccounted for.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa confirmed that one crew member has died following the incident involving the vessel MW Leo. The ship had transmitted a distress signal on Saturday evening, reporting uncontrolled water ingress while en route from Durban to Nigeria.
The vessel, registered under the Comoros flag and owned by Lagos-based Magnet Energy Limited, was carrying 18 crew members, all Nigerian nationals. According to the Department of Transport, the crew abandoned the vessel using liferafts before it sank in the early hours of 1 March 2026.
Twelve crew members have been rescued alive, while one body has been recovered. Efforts remain under way to locate the five missing seafarers.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town is leading the operation, with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) initiating a preliminary investigation into the cause of the sinking. Authorities have not yet released details regarding weather conditions or potential mechanical failure at the time of the distress call.
Government officials said Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Tope Ajayi, has been kept informed of developments. Creecy and Hlengwa extended condolences to the families of the deceased and those still missing.
Maritime incidents along South Africa’s coastline are not uncommon, given the heavy commercial traffic passing through regional waters that connect the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Mossel Bay lies along a busy shipping corridor frequently used by cargo vessels navigating between southern Africa and international destinations.
Separate lagoon incident remains under investigation
In a separate water-related incident last month, a 26-year-old Zimbabwean man was reported missing at the Bot River Lagoon near Fisherhaven in the Western Cape.
According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) station in Hermanus, emergency crews were activated on the evening of 14 February following reports of a possible drowning. It was later established that the man had been wading in the lagoon with a friend. The two reportedly fished in the area regularly.
Despite extensive search operations conducted by rescue teams, there has been no sign of the missing individual. Police have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
While the two events are unrelated, both have drawn attention to water safety and maritime risk management in the region. Authorities have reiterated the importance of adherence to safety protocols at sea and in inland waterways, particularly during periods of variable weather and strong currents.
The investigation into the sinking of the MW Leo is expected to examine vessel condition, compliance with maritime regulations and the sequence of events leading to the reported flooding. Further updates are anticipated as search operations continue.
