Foam clouds spark alarm along the Palmiet River

Loading player...
Westville residents woke up to a bizarre sight: thick, foul-smelling foam floating through streets and collecting on properties near the Palmiet River. Many say the stench was chemical and overpowering, raising fears of pollution in the water.

Local resident and photographer Rorke Shirley captured striking images of the foam clouds towering above people and drifting through the neighbourhood. He says light rain may have stirred up contaminants in the river, creating the massive foam build-up that now threatens wildlife and could affect residents’ health.
16 Oct 2025 10AM English South Africa News · Daily News

Other recent episodes

'I carried her on my back’: Chef's heroic rescue during Greek restaurant fire

Local chef, Chef Ayakha Godlwana, has described the terrifying moments he risked his life to rescue an elderly woman trapped inside a burning building that housed a popular restaurant in central Durban. Delphi Greek Taverna caught alight late on Thursday afternoon, destroying what has been described as an institution in…
4 Sep 10AM 6 min

Remembering Monkey Helpline founder Steve Smit

Steve Smit, the animal rights activist known as the "Monkey Man" and founder of Monkey Helpline, has died. Speaking to Newswatch's Lauren Hendricks, his partner Carol Booth remembers a man who never earned a salary in 20 years, dedicating his life instead to fundraising and rescuing injured wildlife.
13 Aug 6AM 5 min