Fun in the sun? Not so much for KDM’s lifeguards

While South Africa descends on the beaches for the holiday season, we often forget about the men and women who are there for our protection.

The lifeguards that safeguard our beaches have to shift it into a higher gear over the festive season.

“For the last few years most of us have basically not had a Christmas at all,” said KDM’s lifeguard supervisor Bongani Xulu.

It may not seem too bad, after all – working on the beach must be all fun and sun, right?

“Alcohol, fights, abusive language towards lifeguards and unsupervised dogs are just some of the problems we deal with on a daily basis – and it get’s much busier in December.”

Added to these problems is the fact that people frequently disregard the warnings issued by lifeguards on duty, an issue evidenced by the many people trapped by rising tides at the Hole in the Wall at Thompson’s Bay alone this year.

Despite signs and warnings from the lifeguards, they have to dive in to assist people caught by Ballito’s notorious rip currents on a daily basis.

These same abusive people – and all beachgoers – are the ones that the lifeguards offer up their festive season to protect.

“People think they know the sea and can handle themselves but we have to help struggling swimmers all the time.”

“We do understand that some residents prefer to swim at beaches such as Salmon Bay and Christmas Bay but these are unprotected beaches and visitors do not always know this.”

“Please help us by not encouraging tourists to swim at these beaches,” Bongani appealed to the community.

KwaDukuza has 26 lifeguards in total covering seven beaches in the off season and they employed 49 additional temporary lifeguards for the influx of beachgoers over the holidays.

“Lifeguards cover the beaches from 6am to 6pm in eight hour shifts,” said Xulu.

“We work from 6am to 2pm, 9am to 5pm and 10am to 6pm depending on the crowds, and if needs be we implement unplanned overtime.”

This dedicated supervision has meant that in the week between Christmas and New Years KwaDukuza saw only one drowning, in Tinley Manor Pool.

“Lifeguards were on point with CPR and after a very long session got the child’s vital’s back until IPSS medics could get to the beach.”

Unfortunately in the end the child did not make it.

“Losing a life on your guard – especially a child – is unbelievable traumatic,” Xulu told The Courier.

“One must remember that most of us have children and it hits you really hard when a child drowns.”

Xulu applauded the Umhlali Police and their head of department for tightening law enforcement on the beaches this year and encouraged the community to work hand in hand with with them to prevent drownings in KwaDukuza as a whole.

Xulu encourages beachgoers to swim within lifeguard working hours and ask for help anytime.

“After all,” said Xulu, “we’re here to serve you, not be the fun police.”

For emergencies relating to marine safety, fire and rescue and traffic emergencies, please call 032 437 5570 / 060 714 3764.

>>> For ideas of things to do this holiday check out Holiday Vibes.

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