More than 200 children gathered on Coffee Bay beach on Saturday to learn about water safety, at an event aimed at curbing drownings in the area as the summer holiday season approaches.
Children from Port St Johns and Mthatha were bused in to join youngsters from Coffee Bay, and were taught swimming safety measures by trained lifeguards.
Event organiser Karen Katz, a Swim SA instructor in the OR Tambo region, said she had wanted to host such an event for years.
“We need more people to come on board to help create greater water awareness and lessen the number of drownings,” she said.
“I want to help prevent as many drownings as I possibly can with these kinds of events.
“These children are very interested in water but we do not have enough facilities.
“Those who have learnt about water safety today will go back to their villages and townships to teach others and spread the word.”
Aphile Simoyi, 14, and Khanya Danana, 15, said they would teach their friends and families about water safety.
Danana said: “This is important because most people do not know how to swim or what not to do when going into water.
“The things we learnt here could prevent drownings. I am happy to have been part of such an eye-opening event.”
Simoyi said she learnt one must always swim between the red and yellow flags, and always swim with a friend.
“I am so happy we were taught how to swim safely. Even though I stay close to the beach, I never really swam because I was scared of drowning but now that I know what to do to be safe I will come here with my friends to swim,” she said.
Swim SA’s mass participation co-ordinator Mufata Modutoane said: “This programme is vital for rural communities because research has shown that lots of drownings occur in rural areas, particularly those areas with beaches.”
The event was one of the programmes supported by Swim SA, he said.
“This is where raw talent lies and we may even find future international competitors here,” Modutoane said.
“However, first it is all about saving lives, and especially with the festive season approaching we want everyone to be safe.”
Coffee Bay lifeguard Fezile Bodla said: “We normally get calls to come and save people who are drowning here so events like these will make our jobs easier.
“We are happy to have been a part of this event, and as lifeguards we wish more could be done to educate people about swimming, especially at beaches,” he said...