The Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa have conveyed their condolences following the sinking of the MW Leo vessel near Mossel Bay, which left one crew member dead and five others missing at sea.
The vessel was carrying 18 crew members, all confirmed to be Nigerian nationals. Twelve were rescued alive, while one body has been recovered. Search and rescue operations remain underway for the five missing sailors.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Department of Transport said Creecy and Hlengwa had reached out to Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Tope Ajayi, to offer their support.
“They have expressed their pain and condolences to High Commissioner Tope Ajayi, who is grappling with this maritime incident, and emphasized the urgent need to find the missing crew members. They have also expressed messages of support to the families whose loved ones are still missing at sea,” the department said.
The MW Leo, registered under the Comoros flag, issued a distress signal on the evening of 28 February 2026, reporting uncontrolled water ingress. At the time, it was approximately 80 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay, travelling from Durban to Nigeria.
Owned by Lagos-based Magnet Energy Limited, the vessel was on a single voyage when the emergency occurred. Crew members reportedly abandoned ship using life rafts before the vessel sank in the early hours of 1 March 2026.
The response to the incident is being coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Cape Town. Meanwhile, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has launched a preliminary investigation into the cause of the sinking.
Authorities confirmed that the Nigerian High Commission continues to receive updates as search and rescue efforts persist.
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