eThekwini launches Learn to Swim programme
The eThekwini Municipality’s Learn to Swim programme aims to teach 3 000 Grade 4 and 5 learners water safety and swimming tips.
THE eThekwini Municipality recently launched its annual Learn to Swim programme which aims to give young learners key water safety skills and teaches them how to swim.
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The programme plans to teach 3 000 learners in Grades 4 and 5 from all over Durban. By teaching about water safety and how to swim well, the programme wants to lower the chance of drowning, grow self-assurance and get people to swim and play water sports for their whole lives.
The Municipality’s Sports Development and Recreation Division started the programme alongside uShaka Marine World, on February 9.
“Over the next three months, the initiative will be rolled out to 40 disadvantaged schools in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, the Department of Sport, Recreation and Culture and KZN Aquatics,” read the statement.
Qualified swim teachers will teach learners at various pools, including the Austerville pool. The lessons will be a mix of fun, safety advice and skill-building. Dr. Simphiwe Ndlovu, who is in charge of Recreation and Parks, said the programmes are very important in a seaside city like Durban, where there are many risks involving water.
Ndlovu said that being able to swim is very important for every child. He added that this programme is part of the municipality’s bigger plan to help people live healthy lives and teach kids how to be safe when they are in or near water.
“Swimming is a vital life skill and an absolute necessity for every child. This programme forms part of the municipality’s broader commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles while empowering children to navigate aquatic environments safely,” said Dr Ndlovu.
The Learn to Swim Programme remains a key part of eThekwini’s sports plan, ensuring that every child can develop swimming proficiency while creating pathways to competitive swimming and broader sporting excellence.
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