At just 12 years old, Eva Capri has already made waves, quite literally, after completing one of Cape Town’s most iconic open-water swims, all for a cause close to her heart.

The Somerset West youngster successfully swam the gruelling 7.4-kilometre stretch from Robben Island to Blouberg Beach in an incredible two hours and 48 minutes on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, braving icy water temperatures of just 12°C.

Accompanied by experienced open-water endurance swimmer and Team SPCA athlete Howard Warrington, Eva kept pushing from start to finish, showing remarkable determination in challenging conditions.

“Those were tough conditions, even for an experienced swimmer. Eva showed no signs of fear or fatigue, just determination, strength and an incredible amount of courage. I’m incredibly proud of her,” said Warrington.

But for Eva, this was about more than just completing a challenging swim. Her love for swimming and animals inspired her to take on the crossing to raise funds for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.

Reflecting on the experience, Eva says the excitement and nerves kicked in as soon as she set off on the boat trip to Robben Island.

“At the start of the boat ride, I was energetic and a bit nervous about the swim. When we finally reached Robben Island, it hit me: I was actually going to swim from the island, the swim I had been preparing for and working towards all year. When I first got into the ocean, I was a bit cold, but I wanted to keep pushing to see how far I could get. When I realised I was halfway, I knew I would do anything to finish. After reaching the shore, I felt such achievement and exhilaration. I had accomplished what I set out to do and raised funds for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. I am so grateful to everyone who donated.”

Getting to the finish line was no small feat. Months of training and patiently waiting for a safe weather window finally paid off, with Eva’s fundraising campaign already bringing in R16,600 for animals in need.

Cape of Good Hope SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham says Eva has shown how a young person can turn a personal passion into something that makes a real difference.

“We are immensely proud. Eva’s determination has captured hearts and helped bring attention to the animal welfare at a critical time of the year. Her campaign raised R16,600 for animals so far and this support comes as we enter the most demanding time of year for the SPCA, when the needs of animals and the pressure on our teams are at their greatest. We couldn’t be more thankful.”