Supertubes Surfing Foundation turns 15

15 years ago, this month, members of the surf clubs in Jeffreys Bay formed the Supertubes Surfing Foundation, ostensibly to maintain the beaches and to protect the dunes. In the early years, 4T of glass and piles of litter were removed from the beaches.

Prior to the RDP houses being built, approximately 3000 aloes in that area were rescued and planted at Supertubes and the other beach breaks. Other plants, at one stage there were over 4000 in black bags in a private garden, were rescued and then replanted at Supers, Point, Lower Point, Main Beach, Tourism Office, along Da Gama Road, Secrets and Magnatubes.

When bush sleepers started erecting their shacks in the natural coastal bush in the Supertubes Park, the Foundation raised funds to erect razor wire to protect the bush, the tiny duikers and the mongoose that live in there. Beds were dug and the rescued plants planted therein. All of these plants, being indigenous, survived the serious drought of a couple of years ago and require no watering. 

The Indigenous Plant Rescue Centre is situated in the Park and the Foundation's operations take place from there. The Point garden was started with plants rescued from what is now Die Opstal next to the Caltex garage. 

The Supertubes Surfing Foundation has also been involved in community project such as fixing up the toilets at one of the local schools, planting indigenous trees and plants in the school yard, starting veggie patches both at the school and with private households in Oceanview and is very involved with the JBay Recycling Project

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The Foundation has paved paths and dustbowl areas and made paths wheelchair friendly. It also developed the idea of the penguin recycling bins which are now a feature in the Park and have collected 5.5T in the 7 months that they have been there. Smaller penguins will be placed at certain beach breaks.

The penguins at the SuperTubes Park have recently has not 1 but 10 Babies!!! The stunning birds were created by Arno Seyfert from Custom Works and painted by Stephen Bibb Art The project was funded by the Supertubes Surfing Foundation. The babies will spend some time adapting to their surroundings in the Park before fleeing the coup. The parent birds have produced a massive 5.5 tons of recyclable matter in the 7 months that they have been in the park! 

Maintenance is now one of the huge tasks of the Foundation from the lawn mowing of the Supertubes Park, Point and Lower Point, maintenance of the various gardens and beach breaks etc to the upkeep of the boardwalks.

Future plans include a cycle track, more seating at Supertubes, creating a marine reserve, outdoor gym, setting up an education centre, upgrading of the toilets in the Park, moving the showers at Point and the anti nuclear call is on going - amongst others.

The Supertubes Surfing Foundation only does what it does because of the vision of those surfers 15 years ago, spearheaded by Koffie Jacobs. Salute.