Pollution Incident at Sea

A pollution incident at sea refers to spills, dumping and discharges from ships and pollution from land based sources that enters the sea.

For marine based pollution, the first port of call should be the South African Marine Safety Authority (SAMSA).

For all other pollution in the coastal zone, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is the responsible National Authority and the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) the Provincial point of contact.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is the competent authority for dumping at sea under the Integrated Coastal Management Act (Act No. 24 of 2008).

The Department of Transport is responsible for the prevention of pollution associated with shipping activities under the Prevention and Combating of Pollution at Sea by Oil Act (Act No. 6 of 1981) and the Marine Pollution Intervention Act (Act No. 64 of 1987).

SAMSA is responsible for the administration of the following pieces of pollution legislation:

  • Marine Pollution Control and Civil Liability Act, 1981
  • Marine Pollution Prevention of Pollution from Ships Act, 1986
  • Marine Pollution Intervention Act, 1987

What information to report and the procedure for reporting.

  • Name and contact details of person reporting
  • Date and time of observation
  • Details of observation
  • Location or relative position
  • Source/ cause of pollution
  • Weather and sea conditions

Who to contact?

Organization

Name

Telephone

Cellphone/Email

SAMSA Durban

Saroor Ali
(Regional Manager)

031 307 3006

071 686 9593

Hopewell Mkhize
(Principal Officer)

031 307 1501

072 744 4555

SAMSA Richards Bay

Winston Lobo
(Principal Officer)

035 788 0068

071 686 9652

DFFE: Marine & Coastal Pollution Management

Yazeed Petersen
(Director)

021 819 2450

083 530 3127

Feroza Albertus-Stanley
(CEO: Marine Pollution)

021 819 2457

072 173 6234

Ulric Can Bloemestein
(CEO: Marine Pollution)

021 819 2456

084 421 6606

EDTEA

Alfred Matsheke
(Coastal Unit Manager) 

033 897 6682

alfred.matsheke@kznedtea.gov.za
082 330 2114

(Marine & Coastal Pollution)

To report pollution at sea call: 021 819 2450/ 021 819 2457

Hotline for Tip-offs on Contraventions of Environmental Legislation Call: 080 020 5005

Additional Information

Information and contact details on reporting an oil spill

EDTEA additional contact information (PDF)

Downloads

My File

Report Pollution