Cape Town's coastline became the focus of public debate months ago, after a widely shared TikTok clip suggested sewage was washing onto the city's beaches. In response, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis stepped into the surf himself, literally, to address the rumours head-on.
The conversation began when kite surfer Michelle Sky Hayward posted a video of herself swimming in foamy water along the coast.
The clip spread quickly, drawing global coverage from outlets, as the visibility of the video prompted questions about whether the foam seen in the footage signalled a pollution problem.