# Shark kills woman swimming off popular South African beach

> Woman dies after shark attack at South African beach.
- Title: Shark kills woman swimming off popular South African beach
- Summary: Woman dies after shark attack at South African beach. A 65-year-old woman died after being attacked by a shark while swimming at Orient Beach in KuGompo…
- Keywords: south africa, shark attack, orient beach, kugompo city, shark deterrent band, shark bites, university of florida, news, entertainment, Shark, kills, woman
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16223381/Shark-kills-woman-swimming-popular-South-African-beach.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-10-20T12:08:18+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: south africa, shark attack, orient beach, kugompo city, shark deterrent band, shark bites, university of florida, news, entertainment
## Shark attack on South African beach
A woman died after being attacked by a shark while swimming off a popular beach in South Africa.
## Woman identified as 65-year-old Janine Lochrenberg
The victim, a retired nuclear radiographer named 65-year-old Janine Lochrenberg, was swimming with a group at Orient Beach in KuGompo City.
## Witnesses describe attack
Mike Loewe, who was swimming with Lochrenberg, described hearing her screaming and said two swimmers and her son brought her back to shore.
## Injuries and death
Lochrenberg had severe injuries to her thigh and upper arm and was declared dead by medics after being brought ashore.
## Shark deterrent band worn
Lochrenberg was wearing a magnetic shark deterrent band during the attack.
## Beaches closed after attack
The municipality closed nearby beaches and urged the public to stay out of the water following the incident.
## Police response
Police were called to the scene at around 7am local time where they found the body of a woman with open wounds.
## Facebook posts about injuries
A local community group reported seeing a shark's tail and fin and said the victim sustained severe injuries to her right arm and leg.
## Shark bite statistics
There were 65 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2025, up from 47 the previous year, including nine fatalities, one of which was in South Africa.
## Shark attack causes
Researchers say shark encounters can be influenced by growing coastal populations, increased use of marine waters, environmental changes, and shifts in shark distribution.
## South Africa's shark history
South Africa has a history of deadly shark encounters along its long coastline.
## Breaking news status
This is a breaking news story; more to follow.
## Key takeaway

A 65-year-old woman died after being attacked by a shark while swimming at Orient Beach in KuGompo City, South Africa.