The crews were from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and SA Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN).
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said eyewitnesses reported seeing the entangled mammal in the vicinity of Lower Point, Jeffreys Bay, shortly before 3pm.
Two NSRI sea rescue craft were launched carrying SAWDN volunteers and the specialised cutting equipment. "On arrival on the scene, an adult Humpback whale was found with rope and floatation buoys around the tail stock of the whale," Lambinon said.
"The whale, despite having freedom of movement, was found to be heavily entangled," Lambinon said. "In a difficult and delicate disentanglement operation, the rope lines around the tail were cut."
After all rope and floatation buoys were cut free and recovered, and the whale, having regained natural movement and appearing to be healthy, SAWDN were satisfied that the whale would survive after witnessing it swimming off strongly.
Head of the SA Whale Disentanglement Network, Mike Meyer (of the Department of Environmental Affairs - Oceans and Coasts) said that this disentanglement was testament of the fantastic cooperation SAWDN had with all of its members around the coast that were able to quickly and effectively respond to operations successfully under often trying circumstances.
Rieghard Janse van Rensburg, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said that with light fading fast all rope was cut and with the three floatation buoys and all rope recovered the operation was completed at 5.30pm.
